solo

José Ramírez drove in five runs with three doubles, Steven Kwan had five singles and the streaking Cleveland Guardians overcame an early five-run deficit to beat the Angels 8-6 in 10 innings Tuesday night.

Kwan capped his second career five-hit game with a leadoff single in the 10th against reliever Blake Weiman (0-1), advancing automatic runner Brayan Rocchio from second base to third. Travis Bazzana popped out, but Ramírez laced a two-run double to left-center to give the Guardians an 8-6 lead.

Cleveland reliever Erik Sabrowski (5-2) struck out the side in the ninth. Cade Smith fanned Denzer Guzman and Adam Frazier with runners on second and third in the 10th for his 35th save, sealing the Guardians’ sixth straight win.

The Angels took a 6-5 lead on Vaughn Grissom’s second homer of the game, a solo shot off reliever Logan Allen leading off the fifth. The Guardians tied it 6-all in the eighth when Kwan singled and scored on Ramírez’s RBI double.

Cleveland center fielder Angel Martínez preserved the tie when he made a leaping catch at the wall to rob Mike Trout of a potential two-run homer to end the bottom of the eighth.

Angels starter Walbert Ureña gave up three runs and five hits in 3 2/3 innings, striking out three and walking five. Guardians starter Gavin Williams was rocked for five runs and six hits in 1 1/3 innings, his shortest start this season.

Grissom hit a two-run homer in the first, and the Angels pushed the lead to 5-0 in the second on Christian Moore’s solo homer, Guzman’s RBI double and Zach Neto’s RBI single.

Bazzana lined an RBI double to cut the deficit to 5-1 in the fourth, and Ramírez’s two-run double made it 5-3.

Cleveland tied it 5-all in the fifth on two-out RBI singles by Rocchio and Kwan.

WHEN Brandon Flowers was a kid, his dad tried to teach him how to fight.

The lad had been picked on at school, so his father Terry talked him through what to do if it happened again.

Decades later, a memory of that time helped inspire the title of Flowers’ third solo album, Thrasher.

The Killers’ frontman still remembers sitting beside his father Terry in his old 1946 Chevy truck. “I was in fifth grade, so only 11 years old,” he recalls.

“My dad grew up fighting and I still remember him trying to explain to me how to fight.

“You can explain to me all day, but I’m not a fighter.

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“He’d say, ‘You don’t just swing. You think about when you’re going to throw your punch and you have to block yourself’.

“When I’m on stage, I find myself doing it so much. You have this crazy relationship, boys and their dads. I’m still trying to show him that I can do it.”

Flowers is all smiles when we meet at his central London record label. He’s just back from a week in Scotland with his family and feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Thrasher arrives 11 years after his last solo album, The Desired Effect. It is inspired by country and western, the music his dad listened to when Flowers was growing up.

“Much has been said about how my love of music came from my brother [Shane].

“Yeah, it did, but at the same time, I was hearing country music from my dad. His favourites were the heavy hitters — Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Merle Haggard — along with some of those who were not as famous. There’s a guy named John Conlee who he listened to, who I really love.

“As a teenager, I felt I had to choose — the kid who listens to New Order doesn’t also listen to Waylon Jennings.

“As I get older, I just seem to gravitate back to my father’s music.”

Flowers says he has become closer to his father, and increasingly like him, as he has grown older — and admits he is still trying to prove himself to his dad.

He says: “I’m trying to show my dad that I can do what he does. He’s a good man. He’s doing pretty good.

“He had open heart surgery at 81, which is a difficult thing. He’s five months past it now and is pretty good.”

Ideas for Thrasher began shortly after Flowers finished The Killers’ last record — 2021’s Pressure Machine.

He says: “I really enjoyed making this. It was a very important record to me. I didn’t want to leave it alone, so I just continued. It was such a revelation.

“I had all these memories, all these characters and sadness — all of this stuff that I could now find a place for and turn them into something.

“These songs don’t feel like Killers songs — they’re quite personal, so it felt natural that it should be a solo record. It’s been nearly ten years since the last one — I can’t believe it.”

Thrasher is a beautifully observed, emotionally affecting record.

The first single Plans “picks up where Pressure Machine left off”, says Flowers.

“It does a good job of representing the record. There’s some strong emotional material on this album.”

One of the most moving songs on Thrasher is One Of Us, a tribute to his sister’s late husband.

Flowers, the youngest in his family, jokes that he was always told he was “a surprise” — until he was eight, when a friend’s dad bluntly informed him he was “a mistake”.

“I have a sister who is 17 years older than me so her husband was around since I was a little boy.

“He was my brother, so when he passed, it was just heartbreaking and completely unexpected. He was just out of heart surgery. You just want to pay tribute to them and my sister loves it.”

The warm, wistful Paradise finds Flowers imagining the life he might have led, had music not taken him away from home.

“I always thought I would be a valet parker. That was my goal,” he says with a chuckle.

“And if music didn’t work out, it was my Plan B.

“I would be really happy to support my family and be a valet. That’s what my cousins and uncles have done — bellman and valet.

“I have a cousin, Bobby, who has spent his whole adult life as a valet parker, and he was sending me some texts one day complaining about work.

“I was sitting at the piano and just jumped on it, and used it as a launching pad for a song about an ageing valet parker.

“It’s basically him, and it’s where I would be right now if I didn’t have this incredible thing happen to me.

“I have this empathy for him and I’m exploring what could have been and what might have been. There’s sadness in it, but there are also winks and nods.

“That’s the thing I love about country music — how those can coexist.”

Thrasher was recorded quickly in Nashville with seasoned session musicians, including legendary harmonica player Charlie McCoy, whose credits include Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton.

Flowers says: “He played on all those Bob Dylan records and on Roy Orbison’s Oh, Pretty Woman and Simon & Garfunkel’s The Boxer. He played with Leonard Cohen and had great stories about them all. He’s the mascot of Nashville and so incredible.”

Flowers says that the song Red Ground came especially quickly.

“I was trying for a Lee Hazlewood vibe and that song fell into our laps. These guys do this every day for hours. They make decisions that would break a band.”

Thrasher also finds Flowers making peace with his own past.

Although Las Vegas has always been central to The Killers’ identity, he admits he once felt conflicted about his Utah upbringing.

Now he says: “It did feel like I was keeping Utah a secret because I am happy to wave the flag for Las Vegas, but had a bit of a conflict about Utah.

“Now, there’s nothing wrong with embracing both.

“I look back with more tenderness now, and I’m so grateful for my upbringing there.

“I really lived in a golden time where you’re just free. It was before phones and technology and was idyllic — like something out of Stand By Me.”

Having interviewed Flowers many times over the past 20 years, one of the biggest changes is how much more comfortable he now seems revealing parts of himself he once kept guarded, particularly his Mormon faith.

He says: “I was so shy back then. I’m still shy, but I was also unsure about interviews and you don’t know what you’re supposed to reveal.

“It’s so not rock ’n’ roll to talk about Jesus in a positive light. It’s very common in sports but I think people are less open in music.

“There is this authenticity turmoil, where you feel like we’ve always glorified hedonism and debauchery in rock ’n’ roll — and even beyond rock ’n’ roll.

“In every kind of art form, those seem to be the people that we really revere because they are outliers. But I’ve realised it doesn’t make me any less creative because I have faith. I’m just never going to be Sid Vicious.”

Flowers, 45, says coming to terms with his different identities, and simply being himself, has become easier as he’s got older.

“I’m more forgiving of my younger self, but I’m still hard on my current self,” he says.

“We all have that inner voice and it can be the worst critic.

“It’s not been easy, but I now realise I can be that guy on stage, and also a family man,” he explains. “But I was so conflicted for a while.

“Half of you feels like an imposter, and then the other half is trying to show why you belong — it messes with your mind. I was lucky to find something that I was passionate about.

“That’s what I encourage my boys to find.”

Flowers’ sons Ammon, 19, Gunnar, 17, and Henry, 15, have all grown up with their dad on stage — but they are not impressed by his status.

Flowers says: “Ammon loves fitness and being outside — he is just about to go to college in Philadelphia which he’s half excited and half scared about. My wife is sad about him leaving home.

“Then Gunnar loves horror and 90s rock and a lot of grunge, too.

“Henry is a football fanatic so when The Killers performed at the Champions League Final in Budapest, he got to meet David Beckham and was in heaven.

“Mick Jagger was there as well but it was all about Beckham, who signed a football card for him. He’s also a full-blown Oasis fan, so I need to take him to see them when they play again next year.”

Flowers remains hopeful about the future, even though he admits he is deeply troubled by Donald Trump’s America and the actions of ICE.

“This administration is scary,” says Flowers.

“It feels so un-American, and it goes against all of our values and the things that are beautiful about our country.

“You do feel a little bit hopeless and helpless.” But he still believes change can come through younger generations and the ballot box.

“We have to remember to use our voices and to fight back at the polls when the time comes.”

He adds: “Nobody from the other side is rising up at the moment. Somebody needs to rise up. Get the hell up.”

Never one to stand still for long, Flowers has always had an impressive work ethic.

Another solo album is already in the pipeline, with a new Killers record also expected in 2027.

Until then, he is excited about his solo tour, which begins next week and arrives in the UK in October, including a night at the Royal Albert Hall.

He’s already debuted songs from Thrasher at July’s Newport Folk Festival — the famous Rhode Island event where Bob Dylan went electric in 1965.

“I’ve got a band together. This tour is going to be a different experience than you are accustomed to,” he says.

“I’m going to tell more stories and take advantage of these smaller rooms — the Albert Hall is the biggest room I’m playing.

“I want to explain the story behind the songs, which you can’t do in a stadium — so I thought this would be the time to give it a shot.

“I worry people will get sick of Mr. Brightside so I feel lucky that I have different outlets for my music.”

Brandon Flowers

Thrasher

★★★★☆

BLACK Sabbath’s Tony Iommi last released a solo album more than two decades ago.

And now, as he finally announces a new record, From The Dark, he reckons it might take just as long to get presented with his MBE.

The legendary axeman was in the Actress & Bishop boozer in his native Birmingham to celebrate the album’s release when asked when he’d be going to Buckingham Palace.

Tony was made an MBE in the King’s birthday honours last month, for his services to music and charity. But he joked: “I’d forgotten about that. They have probably changed their minds now.”

From The Dark, out on October 23, is Tony’s first album since 2005’s Fused, when he teamed with former Deep Purple, Sabbath and Trapeze singer and bassist Glenn Hughes.

Queen’s Brian May plays a guest solo on Death Wake, and the blistering lead single, the upbeat but punchy World Alone, confirms why he earned the nickname The Master Of The Riffs.

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That moniker’s all the more impressive when Tony reminds us that he lost the tips of the middle and ring fingers of his fret hand as a teen, while working in a sheet metal factory in the city.

He recalled: “I went to different doctors and they said, ‘You might as well give up and find another profession’.”

So he made replacement fingertips. He said: “I got a Fairy Liquid bottle, melted it down into a ball and then got a soldering iron and made a hole in it, so it fit on my finger.

“I tried to play and it slipped off. I had to find a material that would grip the strings like skin, so I cut one of my old rocker leather jackets up, and it worked.”

Iommi fans are in for a treat with From The Dark — which has eight tracks, with two additional songs, Scent Of Dark and Deified on the deluxe version.

It was two years in the making, with Tony enlisting Jorn Lande on vocals, bassist Becky Baldwin and Robbie Williams’ longtime drummer Karl Brazil.

The process was slowed by the loss of Tony’s Black Sabbath bandmate Ozzy Osbourne last July, with Tony stepping back from recording for a while.

The pair exchanged text messages the night before Ozzy died. He said: “I didn’t expect him to go overnight. It was a hell of a shock.”

On returning to work on the record, Tony added: “We’ve done it casually really, because there was no pressure.

The album is steeped in his home city’s history. He said: “The whole record is designed around Birmingham. The T-shirts have been made in Birmingham, the merchandise has been made in Birmingham.”

In front of a small group of guests, with Frank Skinner taking on the interviewing duties, Tony unveiled the dystopian video for World Alone, which was filmed in Cornwall.

“I hate doing videos, I’ve never liked them,” he said.

“This one is more like a film and I am in it but not wanting to be.”

Despite his reticence at getting in front of the cameras, it sounds likely Tony will return to the stage.

Asked whether fans will hear him play the record live, he smiled and said: “You may do.

“Anything’s a possibility.”

Tate shapes up for comeback

TATE McRAE gets fighting fit for her comeback as she prepares to release new music.

The Canadian pulled on her skintight workout clobber and pumped iron for an Adidas Originals Sport campaign.

It comes ahead of a return to the stage this weekend, almost nine months after her last concert.

Tate will headline the Osheaga Festival in Montreal on Saturday, and Lollapalooza in Chicago the following night, as teasers on social media suggest she might debut new songs.

Previous album So Close To What became her most successful yet when it peaked at No2 in the charts last year.

But with her star power continuing to rise, I’m sure she’s got her sights set on turning the next record into a chart-topper.

It’s Olivia RodLego

OLIVIA RODRIGO has recreated her latest album cover in Lego form – and will hide versions of the record around the world.

She posed in this plaid mini-dress at a pop-up event in Los Angeles, where it was revealed 333 toy-brick vinyl versions of You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl So In Love will be available.

The album is in the UK Top Three for a sixth week.

Olivia and Lego will drop clues on social media, hinting at record shops where fans might be able to get the special versions.

I expect to see them popping up on eBay for astronomical sums any day now.

Ruben’s hol alone

RUBEN Dias has made sure everyone knows he’s one of football’s most eligible bachelors, following his split from Maya Jama.

The Manchester City defender broke up with the Love Island host at the end of April.

Three months on, and following his appearance at this summer’s World Cup with Portugal, he has jetted off on a lads’ holiday to Ibiza.

Judging by the photos of his rippling six-pack he shared on Instagram, Ruben got his mates to take thirst trap pictures for him while they were there.

But hinting that he’s still not totally over the split with Maya, he captioned the post: “Feelings on silent.”

With pictures like this, there will be plenty of people offering him a shoulder to cry on.

lMILEY CYRUS’ rocker fiancé Maxx Morando popped the question on holiday in Japan last autumn.

He told Wonderland mag it happened in “this little outer garden”.

Maxx added: “She was taking videos, and was turned away. I got on one knee and tapped her on the shoulder.”

LISA Snowdon has been seen without her ring on after sparking fears that she has split from her fiancé.

After 12 years with George Smart and plans to marry, Lisa, 54, has been seen without her engagement ring.

The TV presenter was spotted going to a Pilates class in Essex this week, with her ring was noticeably absent from her left hand.

She was chatting on the phone as she made her way home while rocking gym gear and carrying a tote.

Lisa said recently that she feels like she’s in a “new chapter of her life” at 54.

Lisa has been enjoying solo travelling recently, and has failed to share snaps of George on Instagram.

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She last shared a snap of George, 46, on her Instagram back in January.

Meanwhile, his own social media account is currently set to private.

Her fiancé featured regularly on Lisa’s social media before then, but he hasn’t been seen on her socials in more than six months.

When Lisa shared a gallery of pictures of herself with her friends hanging out at Wimbledon last month, George was absent again.

Some fans noticed this and one wrote: “Oh no, no George again.”

George might be taking a break from social media and there might be nothing in it – but it’s sparked concern about their relationship.

Lisa and entrepreneur George briefly dated 20 years ago and reconnected in 2014,  before getting engaged in 2016.

Last year, Lisa said she was in no rush to marry George. 

She told Hello!: ‘A lot of women imagine walking down the aisle.

“They imagine their flowers, their dresses, and I just have never had that vision. It’s just a contract at the end of the day.

“I don’t want everybody looking at me, which is weird because I do television and hosting.

“I’m just really relaxed and so is George. It will happen, but I just don’t know what that looks like.”

But now she seems to be moving on.

In a chat with Prima this week, Lisa said: “I’m 54 now and see this time in my life as a new chapter. It’s important to reframe ageing in a more positive way. 

“It takes time for that readjustment to happen, but now I’m in this powerful place where it’s about, ‘What do I want? What do I need?”

She went on: “I don’t have children, so it’s easier for me than mums juggling teenage children, but it’s a powerful time for us to reconnect with ourselves and make big life changes. It’s the second spring.”

TOURISTS are set to be given the chance to see Stonehenge up close and free of charge for the first time in over a century.

A select number of visitors will win the opportunity to get VIP access to the iconic UK tourist attraction.

A select few visitors to Stonehenge will be able to experience a once-in-a-lifetime private viewing of the epic spectacle.

The prehistoric site in Wiltshire sees around 1.4 million tourists every year – but the stones are usually viewed from afar and behind a barrier.

Now, English Heritage has confirmed that a lucky number of people will be able to win special access every day in August for nothing.

Since a fee to see Stonehenge was introduced back in 1901, free entry to the inner circle of stones is usually reserved for VIPs like high profile celebrities or political figures.

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As part of the special competition, one booking will be selected at random every day to be given private access free of charge.

The chosen groups will have the privilege of seeing the stones’ “delicate carvings” and coatings of rare algae and fungi coating known as “lichen”.

Georgia Butters, English Heritage’s head of operations for Stonehenge, said: “Stonehenge is one of the world’s most recognisable landmarks and a bucket-list destination for millions of people across the globe – but very few people have ever experienced the monument in complete peace and quiet.

“This is genuinely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to stand within the ancient stones with no one else around, soaking up the atmosphere and spirituality of this remarkable place,” she added.

“There’s a certain stillness and tranquility about that space. It’s sort of mind-blowing and puts you right back in touch with our ancestors.”

To be in with a chance of nabbing the daily tour, visitors must make their booking on the official English Heritage website at least 72 hours in advance, so that winners can be contacted 24 hours before the visit.

The winning booking groups will be given the private half an hour tour at 9am, before any other tourists arrive.

They will then be treated to a breakfast roll and a hot drink, before being able to go off and enjoy the attraction in their own time.

WANT sun, sand and zero compromises this summer holiday? A solo break could be just the ticket.

As editor of 101 Singles Holidays, Tracey Davies is seeing more folk wanting to go away alone.

Skyscanner’s Global Travel Report shows an 83 per cent rise in bookings from the solo travel search filter compared to last year.

Want to go exploring on your own? Here are Tracey’s picks . . . 

A PASSAGE TO INDIA

Mercury Holidays’ ten-day Essence of North India for Solo Travellers tour is a great introduction to the country.

Take a rickshaw ride around Old Delhi, visit the “Pink City” of Jaipur and explore the historic Amber Fort.

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And right now, you can save £200 on the tour departing on 22 September.

GO: Essence of North India for Solo Travellers is £1,549, including flights, excursions and most meals.

See mercuryholidays.co.uk.

DIVE IN TO THE DOLOMITES

A solo holiday doesn’t always mean travelling alone.

HF Holidays specialises in group walking trips in the UK, Europe and further afield.

This summer, you can save £100 on its guided walking holiday in the Dolomites in northern Italy.

Staying at the charming Regina Elena hotel in Caderzone Terme, the week-long holiday includes scenic walks around the Genova Valley and day trips to Lake Garda and Lake Nero.

GO: Walking in the Dolomites & Lake Garda is now £1,349, including flights, guided walks and most meals.

Departs August 22.

See hfholidays.co.uk.

LIVE IT UP IN LATVIA

Regent Holidays’ five-day tour explores the Baltic capitals of Latvia and Lithuania.

Landing in Riga, you will spend two days exploring Latvia’s atmospheric capital, where a highlight is the food tour of the Central Market, housed in an old Zeppelin hangar.

Then take a first-class train ride to the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius and enjoy the delights of its Old Town, staying two nights in the music-themed Rock’n’Roll Hotel.

GO: The Discover Riga & Vilnius tour is from £990, including flights, transfers, a room with breakfast, first-class train ticket and guided tours.

See regent-holidays.co.uk.

MARVEL AT MARRAKECH

Bag a bargain in Marrakech with easyJet Holidays, staying at the Diwane Hotel, which has an onsite spa and a pool.

Shop in the souk, mooch around the Medina and see snake charmers in Jemaa el-Fnaa square.

GO: A four-night B&B Morocco holiday is from £402, including flights from Gatwick on August 25.

See easyJet.com/en/holidays.

GREEK GETAWAY

Solo travel specialist Friendship Travel hosts brilliant HouseParty holidays in destinations across the Med, including this one in Corfu.

Apollo Studios is a small and friendly hotel, just moments from the beach in Ipsos.

Relax by the pool or book a Jeep safari or sunset cruise.

It’s a great way to meet and mingle with like-minded folk.

GO: A seven-night break in early September is £1,070, including flights, transfers, a studio room, plus many meals.

See friendshiptravel.com.

ENGLISH RIVIERA ESCAPE

Bob along the gorgeous English Riviera with singles holiday specialist Solos on this three-night break based at the beachfront Mercure Paignton Hotel.

Enjoy a scenic steam train ride to Kingswear, potter around Dartmouth and relax on a cruise down the River Dart to Totnes.

GO: Half-board breaks in September are from £649, including dinner each night and excursions.

See solosholidays.com.

The Chinese leader called for more international cooperation in developing the technology at a conference in Shanghai.

Artificial intelligence should not be dominated by one country, Chinese President Xi Jinping has said, urging international cooperation on development at a major conference in Shanghai.

Xi also emphasised the importance of a “people-centred” approach to AI technology in his keynote address at the opening ceremony of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference on Friday.

The conference showcases the cutting-edge technology Xi hopes will soon rival that of the United States.

Chinese AI models are gaining ground on the most powerful offerings from the US, attracting global users with lower costs.

But how to govern the booming sector has become a topic of debate amid concerns over the deployment of AI in military combat and its use by hackers or criminals.

In his address, Xi spoke of China’s role in ensuring equitable access to AI capacity-building for developing countries to prevent the creation of “new historical injustices”.

To that end, he announced China’s plans to cooperate with international bodies, including from Africa, Latin America, Asia and BRICS countries, to provide AI-related opportunities.

“AI development should not be a solo performance by a single country, but a symphony of international cooperation,” Xi said. “We should jointly oppose overstretching the national security concept in the field of AI or placing one country’s security over that of others.”

‘Ensure AI is always under human control’

The US and European Union have imposed restrictions on Chinese tech imports, citing national security concerns, while recent tussles between Washington and American AI labs have raised questions about who controls access to top technology.

In May, the US Commerce Department issued a notice affirming its restrictions on shipments of semiconductors to subsidiaries of Chinese companies located outside China amid concerns about loopholes in Washington’s export control regime.

The guidance said its licensing requirements for the export of advanced AI chips applied to all businesses with headquarters or a parent company in China.

At Friday’s conference, Xi also stressed the need for a “people-centred” approach to AI with humans at the wheel.

“We should put in place laws and regulations, technological monitoring, early warning, and emergency response systems, in order to … ensure AI is always under human control,” he said.

AI has become a strategic pillar of China’s industrial policy, driven by state investment aimed at building a domestic ecosystem, from chip production to consumer use.

Daily consumption in China of “tokens” – the industry unit of AI usage – has increased a thousandfold over the past two years, according to state media citing officials.

As Al Jazeera reported earlier, China, while lagging behind the US in access to the most cutting-edge semiconductors, holds the edge in powering the huge data centres that run on AI chips.

A typical data centre can consume as much electricity as 100,000 households, while next-generation “hyperscale” facilities can gobble up as much power as two million homes, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

China’s access to an abundant supply of cheap electricity places it in the ideal position to meet such colossal energy demands.

It already generates more than twice as much electricity as the US, a lead that is expected to widen amid an aggressive state-led investment in the country’s energy grid.

One Wednesday evening in May, at the boutique hotel Dream Hollywood — located just off the Walk of Fame — a young hotel staff member shuffled over to her co-worker to discuss a special guest on the top floor. Together they exchanged whispers about an artist’s unknown whereabouts and whether or not they would catch him on his descent to the first floor.

The name “Tito Double P” slipped out, referring to the Mexican corrido singer who happened to be in town promoting his latest album, “Acomodo.”

I met the 28-year-old on the top floor, where he opted for a warm, friendly hug in lieu of a firm business handshake. We were quickly rushed into a side room to conduct his last interview of the evening.

Those who’ve followed Tito Double P’s musical journey since 2023 would likely describe him as a chaotic force, with weathered vocals, off-the-cuff ad libs, riotous pelvic thrusts and suggestive tongue expressions.

Come Sunday, he’ll bring the ruckus when he headlines Belico Fest in L.A.’s BMO Stadium. But when we spoke about his second solo album, “Acomodo,” the Nayarit-born, Sinaloa-raised singer, whose real name is Jesús Roberto Laija García, arrived polished, perfumed and poised.

“After this LP, don’t be surprised if you see different things from me,” said Laija García.

Released on May 28, the LP contains 23 corridos, which see Laija García strike the commanding tone of brazen CEO. In its focus track, “Me Vale V,” the singer firmly declares he is manifesting his dreams and not paying anyone else mind. Its lyrics reveal it all: “Ya van tres días que no paro, pero bien trabado” (I’ve been going nonstop for three days now, but I’m totally locked in).

But listeners also get a more vulnerable side of the músicana mexicana singer, who agonizes over heartbreak in “La Fama” — while simultaneously voicing his vice for women and boozy escapades. Throughout the record, the singer sprinkles in the catchphrase, “Bélico pero no tanto, mija,” which translates to “warlike, but not too much, my dear” — striking a balance between his hard-shelled exterior and inner tenderness, namely in the yearning jazzy corrido “Pase y Pase,” in which he pleads for a late-night booty call.

Most notably, “Acomodo” boasts no features whatsoever, a rarity in an industry where artist collaborations play a key role in bringing in bigger audiences (and bigger payouts).

“Many people called me to ask why they weren’t going to be on [the record],” he said. But the solo move marked a milestone achievement for Laija García, who had no designs of becoming an international musical marvel.

“I was never the child who sang, who played the guitar in school festivities or at family parties,” said Laija García in a calm tone — occasionally referring to his stage name in the third person.

The singer still can’t fathom his own success. He cut his teeth by penning career-defining songs for his famous cousin, Peso Pluma — including anthemic corridos like “El Belicon,” “Siempre Pendientes” and “AMG.” These standout ballads touted a rugged lifestyle with elements of organized crime, which aided his primo’s ascent to the mainstream.

Tito Double P released his second solo album “Acomodo.”

(Adan Ornelas Anta)

In the process of composing his cousin’s Grammy-winning 2023 album, “Génesis,” Laija García asked him if he could also release his own material. “Let’s go!” he recalled Peso Pluma saying. “Your first song will be a duet with me.”

The plan was to debut Tito Double P with “La People,” a fiery narcocorrido that details the inner life of a cartel’s tactical security guard, who narrowly escapes a police raid.

But Laija García’s rollout plan took a detour when an unmastered version of his track was leaked to TikTok in spring 2023 — a bouncy tune he later renamed “Dembow Belico,” which is characterized by a Dominican-style boom-chi-boom-chick rhythm and raw, spitfire lyrics. This party track introduced audiences to a version of Tito Double P that radiated a lighthearted madness — fueled by Skyy vodka and Old Parr whiskey, as per the song’s lyrics.

“I liked it, it was something new,” said Luis R. Conriquez, who called up the new singer to be a collaborator. “What makes him special is his voice, his sound. He’s his own person.”

Together with Conriquez and Joel De La P, “Dembow Belico” was released on June 5, 2023, and became Tito Double P’s official debut in the music world — even giving life to one of the most viral clips of Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez, who can be seen awkwardly dancing to it.

“From there on, Tito Double P was another persona,” said Laija García. Throughout his lively retelling of the story, he added a series of sound effects to move the story line — among them, wacha, pum, pum, pum, gol. “More than anything, Tito Double P came across as a character, because that guy was totally crazy, he didn’t give a damn.”

“More than anything, Tito Double P came across as a character, because that guy was totally crazy, he didn’t give a damn,” said Jesús Roberto Laija García, better known as Tito Double P.

(Adan Ornelas Anta)

In real life, Laija García considers himself a timid, camera-shy guy. That’s why he chose an illustration for the cover of his 2024 debut album “Incómodo,” rather than a real-life image of himself; the LP title directly translates to “discomfort.”

“I was going to be one of those artists that [only] releases songs, because [I thought,] ‘How embarrassing would it be if I got up on stage?’” he mused. “But now, I dominate the stage from head to toe. And I don’t want to come down.”

The debut record also served as an experimental project for Tito Double P, whose hard-won swagger elevated every sound he toyed with — whether it was on the brass-heavy banda song “La 701” with Luis R Conriquez, the techno thump of “La Bandolera,” the heavy-hitting urban track “Linda” with Neton Vega and the guitar-powered ballad “Los Cuadros” ft. Peso Pluma).

Featuring collaborations with established acts, such as Natanael Cano, Junior H and Grupo Frontera, the album peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 chart and helped the rising star distinguish himself from his high-profile cousin — who he toppled from the No. 1 spot on the Top Latin Albums chart, five weeks after his debut release.

Although Laija García hasn’t shied away from embracing that familial tie either; in May, both Tito Double P and Peso Pluma concluded their “Dinastía” tour following their joint 2025 album of the same name.

“I still see comments on TikTok where people are surprised that we are cousins,” remarked Laija García.

Now with “Acomodo” — which debuted at the top of both Spotify Top Albums USA and Top Global Charts across all genres — Tito Double P affirmed his rightful place in música mexicana upper echelons.

“That’s why it’s called ‘Acomodo,’ because everything is aligning itself as it should be,” he said.

As Tito Double P made his way to the lobby, a member of the Dream Hollywood valet — who likely bore witness to Hollywood A-listers and other luminaries — asked if he could take a picture with the singer. “Tito, Tito, a photo please!” asked the employee.

Laija García flashed a friendly smile. Thankfully for the attendant, Tito Double P is always camera-ready.

THE thought of going on holiday alone may fill many with terror but if you’re struggling to find a travel companion, a solo travel specialist is the perfect solution.

Friendship Travel, which creates sociable breaks for solo travellers, offers trips across the globe, from snowboarding in France to safaris in Kenya, Nile cruises, walking tours, pottery-painting experiences and book-reading breaks.

You can even just flake out on a Caribbean beach.

I’m just back from a watercolour painting week in Olhao, a fishing town in Portugal’s Algarve region.

I have a husband and two grown-up kids who could travel with me, but none of them shares my love of art.

So a week-long retreat with budding painters, coached by an experienced artist, sounded perfect.

WAIL OF A TIME

I drove Irish Route 66 with deserted golden beaches and pirate-like islands

TEMPTED?

Tiny ‘Bali of Europe’ town with stunning beaches, €3 cocktails and £20 flights

It’s only a two-and-a-half hour flight from Gatwick to Faro in Portugal, so I passed the time reading Plein Air Painting With Watercolours by Grahame Booth, our tutor for the week.

As I flipped through the glossy pages of stunning step-by-step landscapes, I wondered if I would be able to paint as well as he could. Spoiler alert: I would not.

I’d been nervous about travelling alone, but flying solo was so peaceful that the only time I missed having a companion was when I had to drag my 23kg suitcase (included in the trip) off the baggage carousel.

After a 20-minute transfer, I arrived at Casa Rosa, a pretty boutique hotel on a quiet side street near the market and harbour.

It has en-suite bedrooms, plunge pool, sauna, sun terrace, and fully equipped artists’ studio.

On the first night, all the guests were due to meet over dinner in the dining room.

I had my last moment of panic before I left my room that evening, picturing myself either being an immediate outcast or swallowed up by a group of misfits.

But I was wrong on both counts.

There were ten of us, ranging in age from early 20s to mid-80s.

Eight women (including me), Jasper, a very posh elderly gentleman from Dublin, and Grahame, our tutor.

Over the wine and three-course meal (included in the price), we all bonded and shared our reasons for travelling solo.

Some, like Jasper and Kate — a cool, retired film producer from Florida who was travelling with her daughter Liz — were widowed and wanted to spend time with fellow art-lovers.

Others, like Oonagh, a glamorous ex-pat living in Portugal, and Pauline, an outgoing Irish woman who runs her own craft shop, had husbands at home who weren’t keen on painting.

Sue, one of the younger guests, runs art classes online and wanted to pick up new techniques.

It was a fun, chatty group, and as I crashed out in my enormous double bed at 10pm, sipping from the complimentary flask of herbal tea that had appeared on my bedside table, I felt I was among friends.

The week followed an easy routine.

Every morning we’d all meet at 8.30am and eat a buffet-style breakfast together at a long, sunny table outside on the terrace.

There were warm pastries, oats, local honey, cold meats and cheeses, fresh coffee and juice.

To give you an idea of the quality of the food, the jeans I wore flying over to Portugal wouldn’t button up for the journey home.

Then we’d gather up our art materials and Grahame would lead us to a variety of local beauty spots and attempt to teach us how to sketch and paint outdoors.

He is a very funny teacher, who’d regularly offer down-to-earth advice like, “If you can’t draw cars, don’t!” or, “If it looks right when it’s wet, then it’s wrong”.

We all sat behind him, watching in awe as his brush rapidly covered his paper in sloshy, brisk marks that eventually became the bustling outdoor cafe, a calm church or the fish market.

At lunchtime we were left to our own devices and I took to escaping for a Sagres (the local beer) to boost my confidence for the afternoons, when we’d paint our own pictures.

We could either paint out on the streets — where passers-by would pause next to my sketchbook and shoot confused looks between my picture and the landscape I was failing to recreate — or upstairs at the hotel’s own studio.

The three-course dinner each night featured local dishes including quiches, pork, soups and barbecued fish.

The hotel happily catered to the vegetarians and gluten-free guests, as well.

On two nights we went out as a group to a restaurant, and treated locals to a medley of Les Mis songs as we walked back to the hotel.

There was lots of free time to go shopping. Olhao is famous for its hand-made cork, ceramics and mosaics, and one day we all took a boat trip over to Culatra Island.

On the last evening, Grahame organised a critique of everyone’s work.

My nerves returned and I expected him to either set fire to my sketchbook or suggest I book myself on to Friendship Travel’s other activity holidays (pottery painting, perhaps, or book reading), but he was shockingly positive.

And then we had a riotous and boozy last dinner together, with a talent show organised by Pauline.

It’s a week I’d gladly repeat.

The service from Friendship Travel was kind and personal, and I felt supported every minute of the trip.

Mind you, it was lovely to see my husband waiting for me in arrivals — so I could finally stop dragging my own case.

It’s midnight, in June. Powder pink and dark grey clouds drift across a pallid sky, the palette reflecting in the motionless water of Lake Inari. Islets of pine and just-budding birch create pools of distorted shade close to the horizon of this 420 sq mile (1,080 sq km) lake in Lapland, northern Finland. There is not a sound. It’s so silent, I barely breathe to avoid disturbance. Only me, the lake and a moonbeam-coloured moth, whose wingbeat is inaudible.

I am sat beside my car-sized campervan, with mesmerised reverence for the rose-tinged panorama. I do not wish to go to bed and miss this moment. And I am loving the wild freedom and deliciousness of being entirely alone, with nobody in the world knowing my exact whereabouts. Ordinarily, I would be long asleep by midnight, exhausted after a day of work and family life. But I have left my husband and (adult) children at home in England for an eight-week solo camping adventure through Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway, with the singular aim of reaching Nordkapp (North Cape) and Knivskjellodden, Europe’s northernmost point at the top of Norway, in time for midsummer.

Earlier in the day, I’d met Father Christmas. “If you’re driving north, be careful of the reindeer,” the costumed gentleman said as I sat beside him at Santa Claus’s Main Post Office in Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland, a place considered over-touristy in winter, but certainly not during my summer visit.

“We have 230,000 reindeer here in Finland, but only one of them has a red nose.” As it happens, I see countless reindeer, in Finland, as well as Norway and Sweden, creeping through forests and grazing at the coast. Not Rudolph to my knowledge, but many females with calves, all legs and ears.

My meetings with reindeer and the night beside Lake Inari are two of many memorable experiences on my road trip through the Land of the Midnight Sun, so called because north of the Arctic Circle the sun doesn’t set below the horizon during the summer months. It doesn’t set for long south of it either, including in Denmark, where (after I’d driven my campervan from the UK via Germany) my Nordic adventure started in Rødby, on the island of Lolland.

Other than reaching Nordkapp, I have no plan; no accommodation booked either. Instead, I am utilising the popular practice of Allemansretten (everybody’s right, as it’s known in Norway), which is also legal in Finland and Sweden: the right to stop off-grid overnight on uncultivated land, leaving without a trace. On my journey I’m able to park up and stay overlooking fjords, beside mountain passes, with lake or coastal views.

From the flat plains of Lolland, Denmark’s fourth-largest island, my route north takes me to Helsingør for the ferry across the Øresund to Helsingborg in Sweden, leaving a rear-view image of Kronborg Slot – “Hamlet’s Castle” – at dawn.

Luminous lupins and puce pinks litter the roadsides of my 370-mile cross-country route to Sigtuna, 30 miles north-west of Stockholm. The lakeside settlement of colourful timber houses is Sweden’s oldest town. Half an hour’s drive north is Linnaeus’ Hammarby, a pretty 18th-century farm that once belonged to Carl Linnaeus, the botanist who developed the binomial system of naming species we use today.

Hammarby is wonderfully representative of this Uppland region of Sweden. I walk 10 miles through the cultivated countryside along the Dannmark Trail between Linnaeus’s farm and Uppsala, a route he would walk with his biology students for nature studies. Students at Uppsala University (where Linnaeus was a professor) are celebrating finals when I arrive, mingling around ice-cream cafes and in floral parks and botanical gardens. Nearby, the vast twin spires of the city’s rust-red cathedral protrude above blossoming rowan trees.

From Uppsala, I follow the E4, a road that reaches the border with Finland, covering more than 600 miles over six days. Along the way I cross Scandinavia’s longest suspension bridge, the Högakustenbron, at the Höga Kusten, or High Coast, a Unesco world heritage site.

Vast stretches of empty road lined with little but pine trees provide a chance for contemplation. But it’s not until I arrive in the colourful town of Karasjok days later, having crossed from Finland into Norway, that I truly understand the scale of the Nordics. For Karasjok feels very far north, yet it is still a four-hour drive to Nordkapp.

Karasjok is the Norwegian administrative centre for the indigenous Sámi population of Sápmi, the cross-border cultural region that includes parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. The parliament building resembles a traditional lavvu tent and, nearby, Sápmi Park offers an introduction to Sámi traditions.

Leaving Karasjok, the road winds its way alongside Porsangerfjorden, passing fishing hamlets, waterfalls, shaly mountain cliffs and tremendous viewpoints before dipping beneath the Arctic Ocean by tunnel to reach Magerøya, the island upon which Nordkapp sits. I chance upon fine weather as I climb beyond Honningsvåg, one of Norway’s northernmost towns, over snowy mountain plateaux to reach Nordkapp. A tear forms in the corner of my eye. I am alone, about 2,500 miles from home by the quickest route, and I wish my family could see what I can. But this is a solo adventure, and I have reached my goal, staying up all night to watch as the midnight sun sends orange beams across the Arctic Ocean. Captivating.

It is not by the quickest route that I return home, though. My journey back south through Norway (and ultimately Sweden and Denmark, too) is contorted, meandering west and east. Picnics beside turquoise sea coves on the Lofoten Islands, watching pods of dolphins in the Norwegian Sea. Bulging rivers and thundering waterfalls in Saltfjellet national park. Then small farms and meadows with emerald stripes of hay, amassed buttercups, and long lakes through the region of Trøndelag. It is Norway bursting into colour after the bleached landscapes of the north. Occasionally I’ll put in a long stretch in one day – 200 miles or so. Other days, I simply stay put, enjoying the view or stepping out for long walks.

Atlanterhavsvegen – a 22-mile national scenic route across skerries and strung together by bridges – is captivating. Then Runde, one of Norway’s westernmost islands, renowned for a colony of puffins that breed on the cliffs here. A steep mountain walk across the island reveals clusters of people perching on cliff edges in the hope of witnessing the spectacle of birds coming in to roost.

But it is the east of the island where I park up and sit alone for days, watching an otter swimming among the lichen-speckled black rocks, alerted by a clatter of ducks and ducklings, shelducks, wigeon and oystercatchers. Keeping my distance, I observe parent gulls sheltering fluffed-up chicks as curlew call overhead. Orchids, sea campion, clover and a host of other flowers smother the coastal ground. A memorable time.

So, too, my wild camp at the summit of Sognefjellet mountain pass, the highest road in Scandinavia. I set out from Lom, an attractive town that sits between three national parks and possesses a famous stave church and the fascinating Norwegian Mountain Centre. The road, also a designated national scenic route, runs alongside the pretty Bovra River initially, then climbs into some of Norway’s wildest scenery. My overnight is cold, with huge frozen lakes of glacial blue and roadside snow above the height of the campervan. In the morning, as Nordic skiers and a pack of snowmobiles head out to nearby glaciers, I brush snowflakes from my windscreen to begin the descent to the green and luscious Sognefjord. It’s as if I have stepped through a wardrobe and imagined the wintry summer scene.

I appreciate that being alone by choice is entirely different to loneliness. I am often asked of my solo travels, “Don’t you ever get lonely?” I can feel lonelier, I explain, in a crowded room than camping in the wild. Yes, leaving family behind creates a sense of “wish you were here”; special moments I’d like to share. Then again, this adventure is understanding that the memory is mine alone. The thrill, the excitement, the calm and occasionally the trepidation. I’d do it all again tomorrow.

The writer travelled in her own campervan, using Scandlines ferries between Puttgarden, Germany, and Rødby, Denmark. In the UK and Europe, hire of Roadsurfer’s smaller vehicles starts at £49 a night

Rafaela Kuzenc was staying at TUI’s new Holiday Village resort in Tunisia, and from the moment she arrived, everything seemed geared towards making family holidays as easy as possible

Travelling alone with a five-year-old sounds simple on paper. In reality, it’s usually a mix of logistics, snack management, emotional negotiation and carrying more things than you thought physically possible.

So when I booked a sizzling half-term trip to Tunisia with my daughter, I had two possible outcomes in mind: either it would be smooth and surprisingly easy or completely exhausting from start to finish. It didn’t feel like a third option existed.

The holiday began with a 3am alarm and an early morning flight. By the time we’d landed, navigated the airport and reached the resort, I already felt like I needed a holiday from the holiday.

As any parent travelling solo will know, there is nobody to hand responsibility over to. Every suitcase, every snack request falls entirely on you. That’s why I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly I started to relax.

Do you have a story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

We were staying at TUI’s new Holiday Village resort in Tunisia, and from the moment we arrived, everything seemed geared towards making family holidays as easy as possible. Constant sunshine and 30C all week also didn’t hurt.

Check-in was smooth, staff were welcoming, and within minutes we were being shown to our suite. It had separate sleeping areas, and my daughter was thrilled to discover she had her own room. She barely stopped talking about it for the rest of the day.

Then came the pool. And honestly, seeing it was the moment I stopped worrying about entertainment schedules. Before arriving, I had imagined we’d spend our days trying lots of different activities and making the most of the organised entertainment. Instead, my daughter became completely obsessed with the pool. If it had been entirely up to her, she would have spent the entire week pretending to be a mermaid.

The water slides quickly became the highlight. On one afternoon, she went down the same slide so many times I lost count. I just sat there watching, occasionally wondering if I was meant to be doing something else, and then deciding I wasn’t.

For once, I wasn’t responsible for inventing fun every 10 minutes. The kids’ club took that even further. I went to check on her after about half an hour, expecting hesitation, clinginess, or at least a “stay with me”. Instead, she barely looked up.

She was too busy drawing, playing games and joining in with activities. In fact, she enjoyed it so much that she stayed for the full three-hour session.

As a parent travelling alone, that kind of independence is priceless. The staff were warm, friendly and engaging, and the children’s programme was well organised. Knowing there were trained staff, lifeguards and structured activities around gave me confidence to actually relax.

I even booked a massage for myself and later one for my daughter. It was her first professional massage and she absolutely loved it. Would I normally book a spa treatment for myself when travelling alone with a child? Probably not.

But that’s exactly what surprised me about this holiday. For brief moments, it didn’t feel like I was travelling solo at all. Meanwhile, my daughter was happily entertained elsewhere, which felt almost surreal.

Meal times were another area where the resort made life easier. There was no planning, no shopping and no cooking. Whenever my daughter announced she was hungry, there was always something available, whether that was pasta, sandwiches, fruit, snacks or desserts. The toasted sandwich station became particularly useful.

Of course, travelling solo with a child is never completely stress-free. Early mornings were still early mornings. Bags were still heavy and there were moments when I felt like a walking luggage depot. Some activities were also better suited to older children, although my daughter didn’t seem particularly bothered because all roads eventually led back to the pool.

One of our favourite moments came during a boat trip when we spotted dolphins swimming nearby. Seeing her face light up reminded me why travelling with children can be so rewarding despite the challenges.

By the end of the week, my daughter didn’t want to leave. Normally, after a few days away, she starts talking about seeing her dad again and returning home. This time she was trying to negotiate staying in Tunisia indefinitely.

That, more than anything, felt like a successful holiday. I arrived expecting to spend the week entertaining my daughter. Instead, I found myself enjoying the holiday too.

Book it

TUI offers a seven-night holiday to Skanes, Tunisia, staying at the 4T+ Holiday Village AQI Skanes Resort on an all-inclusive basis from £830 per person. Price is based on two adults and two children sharing a 1 Bedroom Family Room with Balcony or Terrace. Includes TUI Airways flights departing from Newcastle on

5th July 2026 with 25kg hold luggage per person and transfers included. Package includes one free child place.

TINA O’Brien has shown off her stunning bikini body while enjoying a sunny solo holiday.

It comes following the 42-year-old Coronation Street actress’ split from millionaire Adam Fadle in November.

Taking to Instagram, Tina shared a slew of pictures from her solo trip to Italy this week as she soaked up the sun.

She donned a patterned pink bikini in one with a matching cover-up, showing off her slim physique while posing in the mirror.

Other snaps showed Tina sipping cocktails by the pool, enjoying lavish meals and exploring the area.

She captioned the post: “I had the most incredible solo travel experience exploring Ischia and Capri 🇮🇹 🛵 ❤️ Can’t wait to plan the next one 💫

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Tina’s co-stars such as Lucy Fallon, Samia Longchambon and Sally Carman all took to the comment section of the post to send their love to Tina.

The solo trip comes months after Tina split from her boyfriend Adam in November after four months together.

The Coronation Street star, 42, went official with the millionaire businessman in the summer last year and they both made their first public outing at her co-star Jack P. Shepherd’s wedding in July.

Insiders said that the Sarah Platt actress called time on the relationship after she felt it “wasn’t going anywhere” and she didn’t think it was “going to last”.

Tina’s outcome is said to have shocked Adam, 38, who believed they had a real future.

The relationship came just four months after the end of her marriage to personal trainer Adam Crofts.

They were married for six years and share son Beau together.

Tina also has a 16-year-old daughter from her relationship with her former Corrie co-star Ryan Thomas.