Splash House is back! The 6th annualSplash House is here this weekend in Palm Springs from August 10-12 and all three days will be featuring a colorful poolside stage. Many artists are coming this weekend, so make sure to grab a friend (or two) and bring them along with you! View some of the artists attending this year down below!
The ever-versatile Queen Latifah returns to her throne for a soul-driven set showcasing the emotional power of her voice and her sophisticated presence as a singer. Fresh off his second Academy Award® nomination for Best Original Song – an award he won in 2013 for “Glory” – rapper, poet, and actor Common fuses social justice and large-hearted positivity for a highly charismatic performance.
Mugsy, the brand known for offering men denim that is as comfortable as sweatpants, has a surprise in store for us for this year’s 2018 Fashion Week.
Specifically, they are launching a new assortment of seasonal shades for the season.
The #DiscoveredInDenim model search winner, local Chicagoan, and Bachelorette alum, Diggy Moreland won his spot in the Fall 18 collection campaign, highlighting one new denim wash, a return of an original favorite, and three new chino hues for the brand.
Due to high demand, the brand’s Hamm is coming back along with a denim shade of dark grey. Men looking for chino options will also have new colors to add to their Mugsy collection, including a deep navy and a seasonally appropriate olive.
The new additions will be available online and in-store this September.
Mixing A Unique Blend of Influences From Rock to Blues, Folk, and Hip-Hop – The Bands Unique Multi-Genre Approach Lends A New Perspective to Alternative Music
In a city often oversaturated with musicians of every genre constantly performing and creating, it takes a special group of artists to truly stand out amongst the crowd that produce a truly unique sound, and New York City’s All Types of Kinds truly live up to the namesake.
All Types of Kinds (or ATOK) plays a wide variety of music ranging from rock to pop, folk, punk, funk, hip-hop, blues, jazz, and country – even sometimes all at once. The members come from diverse backgrounds that make for an amalgamation of musical textures and vibes. Their EP, “Love Songs (Or Songs For Your Ex)” debuted on Valentine’s Day 2018 and they are currently gearing for dates all over the country.
The band consist of Ray Rubio (Guitar), Billy Conahan (Guitar), Berk 0 (Percussion), and Rocco Stroker (Guitar) – all of whom have unique musical backgrounds. Ray, 20, a multi genre artist and singer/songwriter, hails from Harlem NY and has also been on stage from young age, mainly theater productions. Ray attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 2014, and since then has been performing his music in the New York Metro Area and Richmond, Virginia. Billy, 25, is a queens native whose been on the stage since his early teens as a stand-up comedian, singer/songwriter folk artist playing his own folk tunes as well as cover tunes. Berk O, singer and percussionist, is from Brooklyn and also contributes to the band’s songwriting process, while Rocco is the newest member of the band – playing bass, guitar and as an incredible vocalist. He hails from New Fairfield, Connecticut.
With the goal of becoming a full-time, self-sufficient, self-produced band, able to tour and create their own audio and video products on a regular basis, they plan to soon follow up their debut with a sophomore effort in late 2018. Unlike other bands who strive for major-label greatness, ATOK shys away from fitting into an industry mold, and often scoff at the idea of being referred to as a ‘boy band’.
Believers in finding a way to share their music while remaining firmly in the driver’s seat, they continue to write, practice, and enjoy playing their music for any crowd that will have them. Making friends from all over the world by busking on the NYC streets has even allowed them to meet and collaborate with like-minded musicians.
These recent “Your Big Break” contest winners who’ve been praised for their “polished precision, sweet harmony, musicianship, artistry, versatility and originality in their smart lyrics” are ready for the big time. That time is now.
To Purchase All Types of Kind’s “Love Songs (Or Songs For Your Ex)” via iTunes, VISIT: http://apple.co/2MN7W5o
“Hey Lil Mama” arrives on the heels of his recent release “Fresh Roses” and debut EP Grey. Carried by wistful melodies, wonderfully nostalgic lyrics, and lithe acoustic guitar, “Hey Lil’ Mama” illuminates his songwriting skills and smooth delivery on the breathy and bright hook. It’s emblematic of his delicate emotionality and ability to serve up a gorgeous anthem every time he hits the studio.
“Hey lil’ Mama is a song about reflecting on a past relationship and ultimately hoping the best for that someone. I started the song back in 2016 right in the middle of moving from Guyana to Atlanta and finished it in the middle of 2017 just after moving to NY and truly realizing how huge the world truly is,” explains Juke
Located on South America’s northern mainland, the celebratory and life-affirming spirit of Guyana remains an undercurrent of JUKE ROSS’s songwriting. The youngest of 14 siblings, he can recall falling in love with music at a young age. The family radio played everything from Caribbean standards to Bob Dylan and Michael Jackson, and he would sit and listen for hours on end. Inspired by his nurse mom, he enrolled in medical school. In the midst of his studies, guitar beckoned to him. JUKE feverishly began penning music. Among those early compositions, he created “Colour Me,” which became an independent phenomenon, landed him a deal with Republic Records, and positioned him as one of 2017’s most exciting artists to watch!
His Debut Release Brings “A Sultry Collection of Songs About Life, Love and Loss” to Fans of the NY Based Singer-Songwriter
Following the release of the single and video “Ash Tray Kisses”, Singer/Songwriter Ryan Chernin recently dropped his Debut LP “You Know Who You Are” via Inhuman Records. Packed with “mature songs, personal lyrics, and intricate instrumentals” its being called “more like an exploration of self than a combination of songs”. And for the NY based Chernin, it seems likely only more positive feedback is headed his way!
Singer/songwriter Ryan Chernin showed an inclination for music at an astoundingly young age.
“My mom has this one story – my grandmother swore by it too – that at three or four months old they were talking to me in my crib and I apparently gave them their exact intonation back,” Chernin recalls, laughing. “According to my mom, that was my introduction to music.” He insists that his real introduction was the Yellow Submarine tape she’d play for him in the car, and the piano lessons he begged his parents to sign him up for as a child.
Over the years Chernin’s parents continued to encourage his love for music and his passion for performing, knowing even back then that it was more than just a phase.
In college Chernin studied film, and as an accomplished actor, spent much of his time in and around theaters. However the spotlight is something the soft-spoken artist has never been entirely comfortable with. The reason, according to him, is simple: “Every time I got on stage and did musical theater, I was always a character. I was very much about throwing myself into those characters.” That disconnect is something Chernin struggled to overcome as he began working on his latest LP, “You Know Who You Are”. “It’s me up there. It’s my pain, my happiness. It’s all out there and it’s very vulnerable.”
You Know Who You Are is the culmination of a year’s worth of work in and out of the studio, a sultry collection of songs about life, love, and loss. “What was most important to us was to take our time with it and really make sure it was perfect every step of the way,” Chernin explains. “It was about selecting the right people.” That list of people includes producer John Eugenio, mixer Chris Davies, and SNL guitarist Jared Scharff. The result is a maturity and depth that takes most artists years to capture, with Chernin’s quick wit and caustic sense of humor complimenting his raw indie rock sound.
To Purchase Ryan Chernin’s “You Know Who You Are” via iTunes, VISIT: http://apple.co/2rGq6vS
The Song Chronicles the Journey of Singer Joe Coss and His Travels From LI’s East End to New York City As He Worked as Lead Mechanical Engineer on the new World Trade Center
From 2005 to 2013, Joe Coss – lead vocalist of Long Island based band Liquid Phase spent his days traveling from Long Island to downtown New York City to work as the Lead Mechanical Engineer on the new World Trade Center. His journey became chronicled in the band’s song “Bright Colors”, which brings to light the poetic landscapes from the cliffs of the East end to the “Castles” of the cities skyline.
Liquid Phase, the NYC Rock Band from Montauk, is a five piece rock outfit featuring Coss on Vocals and Guitar, Jamie Grubb on Keyboards, Dan Zellan on Guitar and Vocals, Dan Collins on Bass, and Steve Collins on Drums. The band brought its diverse blend of colorful laid-back surf and skate beach music as well as its hard hitting electric rock and alternative sound to stages across the U.S., opening for guitar legend Slash of Guns n’ Roses and famed Southern Rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd.
“Bright Colors” is an infectiously upbeat song which brings to light Coss’s love for both the city whose most triumphant landmark he’s had the privilege of erecting to the oceanside oasis that is Montauk, NY. This comes to light in the songs lyrics “See a row of purple roses live on the oceanfront // And the cliffs of Earth eroding slower than we have fun // When I climbed up the iron ladder the sky was the bluest one // Looking out as our friends were leaving just as the keg was done” and coming full-circle with “Look West as the sun sets, castle stands in our way // Out East there’s an orange moonrise, radar’s aimed our way”.
The song – coupled with Coss’s diverse background (from his days as a Berklee College of Music student to his work in theoretical physics) and his relationship with legendary Singer/Songwriter Paul Simon and wife Edie Brickell – have made for an incredibly unique blend of infectious rock and pop. The band was invited by Brickell to rehearse in Simon’s home studio in Montauk while Joe also worked on Guitar Lead’s and Charts with Edie before receiving a prized gift – Edie’s custom Orange Electric Tom Anderson Guitar.
Now, as the band continues to write and perform throughout the NY area and all over Long Island – they’ll bring their unique sound to fans new and old!
Having Gotten Her Start In Music at the Tender Age of 9 and Transformed Into a Powerful Social Media Music Influencer, The Young Star Has Made an Empowering Debut About Transforming Oneself Through Mind, Body and Spirit
With a bold tenacity that shines bright in her music and brand new video, it’s no wonder singer/songwriter Mariel Darlinghas already had a headstart in her music career having been performing and building her career for the past seven years. And with her brand new single and video “No Mirrors”, she continues to make waves in the ever growing and changing world of music media.
A Western Massachusetts native, 16yr old Mariel Darling started recording music when she was only nine years old after being discovered by manager Jackie Sarkis – formerly of Radio Disney, and at age ten she was already turning heads performing at the New York Knicks halftime show. Even in her early years, the young singer knew that she wanted to use her talent to help promote positive messages, and by eleven she was already hard at work writing and performing songs for the National Education Institute encouraging other kids in a fun and upbeat way to read, study, and focus on their education as a way to further their well-being. These initiatives lead Darling to perform on bigger national stages and festivals including the Maritime Festival, Washington D.C.’s CureFest for Childhood Cancer, and the Camplified Tour which saw her perform in front of thousands of teens and tweens at summer camps across the nation at fourteen.
Cut to 2017, and Darling has become an emerging star in the new music world of social media! A verified, crowned “Muser” and host of the globally syndicated show “Jukebox Countdown” on Musical.ly’s “Live.ly TV”, she quickly grew to have a large number of fans on the popular music app. Constantly writing and collaborating, she’s been recently working with major label producer/songwriter Cass Dillon, while consulting with Artist Manager/Developer Stefano DiBenedetto of The Hang Productions.
“All of the things that I let get to me, gonna let them fly away// All of the love that I have in me, Oh It’s gonna set me free//I don’t need no mirrors here, I can see it clearer and clearer”
Delving into her latest release “No Mirrors”, co-written with Dillon, the song and accompanying video were two incredibly creative experiences for Darling during a time where she was really trying to find herself. “This is a song about being confident on the inside. People, especially young girls, are always looking for external validation” she says, continuing “I wanted to write a song to encourage everyone to stop trying to look a certain way or act a certain way to fit in. As young woman we go through so many transformations – mind, body, soul. We need to stop trying to live up to all of the perfection”.
In the video, which sees her going through persona changes from “glam” to “raw” and finally finding inner beauty, she considered the process to be an amazing experience turning deeply personal lyrics into a unique visual representation. “I start off with a pop star look, trying to be something that I think people expect to see as a female pop star performer, and go through another phase as I look in the mirror. Done with the glam, I find myself in a kind of darker place and then transition into a simple look, nude colors, to show the raw internal me. The video helped me really express what I’m going through. The teenage years are tough- with social media and all of the images you see on Instagram. It just makes you second guess who you are and try to ‘be like them’, to fit in.
But through all the challenges and triumphs, Darling – who sees Taylor Swift as one of her biggest influences as a multitalented positive role model – still seems to be enjoying the ride. “Being in the studio is such a special experience. In my opinion it’s the hardest work, but the most fun! Its magical and so satisfying to see it all come together right before your eyes!”.
With more music on the way as she continues to write and collaborate with Dillon in 2018, make sure to check out “No Mirrors” (Available via iTunes, Google Play, Spotify etc.) today!
UK cost of living for a four-person family is £60,000 per year – 103 per cent of average household income
UK housing and utility costs have risen by 13 per cent1
The global study found the most affordable expat country for families is Sweden
Today, new research by leading price comparison website MoneySuperMarket reveals that the UK is the most expensive location to raise a family. The running costs associated with a four-person family in the UK exceeded those of Spain, USA, Germany and Sweden due to the high costs of rent, utility bills and groceries2.
The data is based on the average monthly cost of property, utility bills and grocery shopping for a family with two children in 10 locations. These locations are some of the most popular destinations for the British public to emigrate to. MoneySuperMarket also ranked the costs against the countries’ average full time salary, to reveal the percentage of salary two working adults must put towards household expenses. In the UK, the average cost of a four-person family is more than twice the combined total of two adults’ salaries4.
Popular expat destinations with lower living costs
With lower utility bills (£94.41 per month), heavily subsidised pre-school costs (£230.34) and a standard average monthly rent of £1,149.40, Sweden is the only country analysed where a single parent can comfortably afford to have two children, working out as 87 per cent of the average working salary5. Based on two adults with two children it’s even more affordable, eating into less than half (43 per cent) of the combined salaries.
The full ranking of the affordable global cities to raise a family, including a breakdown of all metrics, can be seen below:
Global cost of raising a four-person family
Changing costs over time
On average, the weekly food shop has lowered in price for families over the last 16 years, from £236 to £232. However, spending on both housing and utilities, and household goods and services, has increased by 11 per cent overall. In 2001, the average monthly cost of housing and utilities per person in the UK was £277.77, but by 2017 this figure had risen by 13 per cent to £314.82. Due to these rises, the cost of raising a family in the UK has become more expensive.
For more information on the most affordable countries to move to, check out the MoneySuperMarket report around the changes in UK household spending over time.
