Weekly Music News: Mac DeMarco, PJ Harvey and more

photo: Mac Demarco press
Mac DeMarco

Mac DeMarco auctions pair of shoes for charity

Canadian singer-songwriter Mac DeMarco, whose "Salad Days" album reached #24 in the 2014 OpenAir Listener Poll, is auctioning off a pair of sneakers he wore throughout his recent tour, which included a show at the Gothic Theatre in Englewood, Colo.

According to the eBay listing, all profits from the sale will go to Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls. The current high bid is over $21,000. The auction closes Sunday, Jan. 4.

Watch DeMarco's "smell test" of the sneakers below [via Pitchfork]:

Photo: PJ Harvey at Somerset House
PJ Harvey at Somerset House

PJ Harvey to record new album in public view

Two-time Mercury Prize winner PJ Harvey will record her ninth studio album live in public view at London's Somerset House.

The live exhibit is part of the singer-songwriter's "Recording in Progress" art project. From Jan. 16 to Feb. 14, attendees can pay to watch Harvey and her band working on the album from behind one-way mirrored glass.

Harvey says of the project: “I want 'Recording in Progress' to operate as if we’re an exhibition in a gallery. I hope visitors will be able to experience the flow and energy of the recording process.” [via The Guardian]

Paul McCartney collaborates on new Kanye West song

On New Year's Day, rapper Kanye West released a new single "Only One" featuring Sir Paul McCartney. The former Beatle provides keyboards on the minimalist soul track, which is streaming via West's website.

According to a spokesperson for West, the song is the first "publicly available recording from what has become a prolific musical collaboration between these two legendary artists." [via Rolling Stone]