Posts made in April 2019

ILIRA’s Independent Anthem

Leave a reply

Pop Princess ILIRA is No Damsel in Distress

Feminine and feisty, singer ILIRA is the heroic heroine of her own life story. In her new anthem, “Do !t Yourself,” the singer ditches storybook clichés and encourages fellow females to declare their independence.

A concoction of bouncy beats and upbeat fizzy pop, “Do !t Yourself” is a proclamation that women are capable of being much more than damsels in distress. The pop princess claims “girls ain’t gotta be the sweet and helpless type,” and create their own happy endings.

Raised in a small Swiss town by Kosovo-Albanian parents, ILIRA developed her signature rebellious attitude at a very young age while struggling to find her place in an environment with clashing cultures. It was during this time the singer learned how to fight her own battles, often finding resilience in music.

Described by Clash Music as “an artist destined for a long and promising run,” “Do !t Yourself” follows ILIRA’s feature on catchy club hit “Fading” by Alle Farben and in-your-face bop, “Get off My D!ck.”

Follow ILIRA on Social Media

Instagram I Twitter I Youtube

SHIFT ARTS FESTIVAL

Leave a reply

Kick off summer with live arts and films that explore the human/nature conundrum

Across the globe, humans face enormous questions: how do we find balance in our relationship with Nature? How do we transform what has been a quest for dominance into a sustainable collaboration?

The Hopkins Center for the Art at Dartmouth College launches its second annual SHIFT festival, a 10-day suite of live, arts, film and discussions that explore the push and pull of that Human/Nature bond. Feel humans contend and at times cooperate with the forces of nature in a stage version of Moby-Dick, a spectacle of physical theater by Australian company Circa, and film screenings with special guests that probe the oceans and night skies. Wander among human percussionists interacting with nature world in Inuksuit; celebrate nature in song in a pop-up chorus. The schedule is a mix of free and ticketed events.

This year, SHIFT is bookended by concerts by Cory Henry & the Funk Apostles and Iris DeMent—artists who join past and present and speak to what it means to be an American in 2019. It also includes the Dartmouthpremiere of Dance Heginbotham, the acclaimed Brooklyn-based dance troupe led by John Heginbotham, director of the Dartmouth Dance Ensemble.

The performances in SHIFT will be enriched by a series of talks and master classes by Dartmouth scholars and visiting artists, who will unpeel various layers of how humans connect and impact the natural world. These include talks on energy, whaling, Melville and Americana music, as well as a discussion between Heginbotham and his collaborator, composer Tyondai Braxton.

Along with exploring big questions, SHIFT is also a great way to kick off summer in the Upper Valley, complementing the area’s wealth of opportunities to hike, bike, boat and otherwise enjoy the outdoors.

Tickets to SHIFT events go on sale to Hop members on Friday, April 26, and to the general public on Tuesday, April 30. SHIFT runs June 21 through 30 at locations in the Hop and on the Dartmouth campus. Tickets will be available at hop.dartmouth.edu or 603.646.2422.

SHIFT events

Cory Henry & the Funk Apostles

Friday, June 21, 8 pm

Spaulding Auditorium, $42/32/22

“I believe that love will find a way,” sings Corey Henry. And he’ll make you believe, too.

With his supple voice, soulful songwriting and chops on the Hammond B-3 organ, Henry “serves up a sermon of soulful bliss” (Denver Post) of R&B, Afrobeat, gospel and jazz. Graced with Grammy awards for his work with Brooklyn’s Snarky Puppy and his own namesake band, Henry has been called one of the finest organ players of his generation.

Moby Dick

Gare St. Lazare Players

Saturday, June 22, 8 pm

Sunday, June 23, 3 & 8 pm

The Moore Theater, $42/32/22

“For there is no folly of the beast of the earth which is not infinitely outdone by the madness of men, ” Herman Melville wrote in Moby-Dick. Compressing the novel’s details, characters and gigantic themes into one riveting night of theater, veteran Irish actor reels us into the harsh world of 19th-century whale hunting. In this battle with nature, the humans are determined to win–but at what cost? This engrossing, one-man refresh of Melville’s 1851 novel is backed by 10-string fiddler Caoimhin O’Raghallaigh (of The Gloaming). An American literary anchor splashes on stage.

Public talks, 6:30 pm, Top of the Hop, free

June 22: Irving Institute director Elizabeth Wilson on the interconnected histories of energy and whaling

June 23: Professor Donald E. Pease’s acclaimed talk on Melville and the American Renaissance

A Portal to the Sky: Cinema and Space

Mon, Jun 24, 8 pm

Loew Auditorium, Free

Travel among the moon and stars with an evening of singular short films presented by Professors Jodie Mack and Dan Rockmore. Each film is an artistic celebration of the sky, space and worlds beyond, using real images as the source material.

Sing For the Earth

Tuesday, June 25, 8pm

Spaulding Auditorium, free

Come sing together in gratitude for earth’s abundant beauty! In this program, you are invited to reflect on the relationship between humans and nature as the group reads through diverse short choral works related to nature, led by Handel Society director Robert Duff.

Recommended for all singers 12 and up; sight-reading skills are helpful but not required.

Dance Heginbotham and Alarm Will Sound

Wednesday, June 26

The Moore Theater, $32/22

Eight-member Dance Heginbotham brings its celebrated athleticism, humor

and theatricality to live music by the 22-member new music band Alarm Will

Sound (“original, vivid, reckless”-Los Angeles Times). DH is led by John

Heginbotham, who also directs the Dartmouth Dance Ensemble and

choreographed the acclaimed remake of Oklahoma that just moved to

Broadway. The evening includes new Heginbotham choreography to

selections from AWS’s new CD Acoustica—unprecedented acoustic versions

of electronica—as well as his Hop-commissioned new choreography for

composer Tyondai Braxton’s chamber work Common Fate.

Heginbotham and Braxton discuss their collaboration, June 26, 6:30 pm, Top of the Hop, free

The International Ocean Film Tour

Thursday, June 27, 8 pm

Spaulding Auditorium, $15

Swim among seething schools of sharks, ride the waves with adventurers transforming the sport of surfing, or cruise the world’s oceans with some “anti-Ahab” activists–protecting, not hunting, whales. The subjects of these films inspire you with their ardor for the oceans and adventure. Eco-activist Henry Lystad (formerly MountainFilm Tour Director) introduces each movie with insider details and naturalist knowledge.

Humans by Circa

Friday and Saturday, June 28 & 29, 8 pm

Sunday, June 30, 3 pm

The Moore Theater, $47/37/22

Body, space, force and balance. In this heart-stopping nouveau cirque adventure that earned rave reviews on several continents, Australian circus artist/athletes test the limits of the human body. Forms fly through the air. Towers emerge and tumble. This virtuosic meditation on the body plays with the laws of physics, ratcheting up the tension between us and the space we move through.

Master class with Circa, Tuesday, June 25, details to come

Inuksuit

Saturday, June 29, 3 pm

Outdoor location on Dartmouth campus TBA, free

Rain date: Sun, June 30 at 3 pm.

Wander through a landscape of instruments–conch shells, gongs, drums, glockenspiels and more–accompanied by the ambient sounds of nature. Named after the stone piles used by native people to orient themselves in Arctic spaces, Inuksuit was created by environmental composer John Luther Adams. This event will involve up to 99 professional and community musicians in an outdoor campus location. As they walk among the musicians, listeners shape their own experience, discovering the listening points that call out most to them. Directed by Dartmouth music lecturer Amy Garapic.

Want to clang, whistle or whirr or otherwise play in the band? Go to hop.dartmouth.edu for more information.

Iris DeMent

Saturday, June 29, 8 pm

Spaulding Auditorium, $42/32/22

Iris DeMent is a voice for an America seeking roots and meaning. As Cory Henry marries retro-funk with Afro-Futurism, so DeMent brings a modern sensibility to the timeless pentecostal gospel twang of her native Ozarks. Twenty-seven years after she pioneered what we now call “Americana” with her debut album Infamous Angel, she is still sharing powerful stories and shining a light into dark places.

Dartmouth musicologist Ted Levin discusses DeMent’s place in American music, June 29, 6 pm, Top of the Hop, free

Austin Eldred

Leave a reply

With over 230,000 Spotify streams on his single, ‘Are You Down,’ the people of Los Angeles keep buzzing around a fresh urban vibe named Austin Eldred.

The Orange County native is a show-stopping recording artist paving a name in the music world. Eldred has officially been releasing music for two years with hits featuring the noteworthy likes of Eric Bellinger and Problem. Eldred draws inspiration from his eclectic childhood upbringing in Southern California where he infuses R&B and Hip-Hop into a unique sound. His upcoming debut album, “1997” (executively produced by Ned Cameron) is soon to release and will showcase new sides of the performer. With ten new hand-written tracks, Eldred looks to put a permanent imprint on the industry.

Mitch Evans Wins First Formula E Race for Panasonic Jaguar Racing in Rome

Leave a reply

Mitch Evans made history for Panasonic Jaguar Racing, claiming the team’s first ever ABB FIA Formula E win in Rome. It is Jaguar’s first international motorsport victory since 1991.

During a qualifying session plagued with intermittent rain showers, an impressive performance from Mitch saw the Kiwi driver clinch P2 from Super Pole. Teammate Alex claimed a ninth place qualifying, before being penalised for exceeding the maximum power limit and started at P21.

An early collision at turn 17/18 caused a pile up of several cars and brought out a red flag.

Mitch drove confidently at the restart and managed to overtake Andre Lotterer with Attack Mode at turn 11 for the lead of the race. Despite Lotterer activating Attack More a lap later, the Kiwi driver defended well and held onto his first win in the series.

The Panasonic Jaguar Racing team will now prepare for the Paris E-Prix on 27 April.

Mitch Evans commented about the win:

“This feels beautiful. It was a fantastic race. The first few laps were tricky in the wet. After the red flag I just wanted to stay steady. From early on I felt comfortable and my energy management was ahead of target so we decided to use it when it mattered. I wanted to use Attack Mode when Lotterer didn’t have it to gain that power difference. We had great pace from the beginning, so I really felt confident out there today.

It’s been years since I had a win, so this really feels amazing. I’m so happy for the team, for everyone at Panasonic Jaguar Racing for all their hard work and to Jaguar Land Rover for their support over the past three seasons. This has really come at a great time.”

Le Dîner in Blanc de Paris

Leave a reply

On Thursday 6 June 2019, the 31st edition of Le Dîner in Blanc de Paris will take place in one of the most prestigious locations of the French capital.

Last year, several thousand international guests attended this wonderful event where the elegance of everyone’s white outfits gave the evening a magical and universal character. Watch the 2018 video here.
Again, this year, guests are invited from every continent, 30 countries and 90 cities around the world to share this beautiful dinner party infused with elegance, joy and friendship.

Along with American, Canadian, English and Australian guests, whose grand-parents landed 75 years ago exactly on June 6, 1944: D-Day, attendees will participate in the remembrance of this great moment of sacrifice and fraternity. Some of the world’s most important dignitaries will also come to Normandy and to Paris to commemorate this historic anniversary.

Le Dîner en Blanc brings a lot of happiness to everyone. Indeed, for a few hours, it’s a kind of magic that envelops the event, making guests more stunning, cities more beautiful and the future much brighter…. In their best attire and their most joyous mood, guests are reminded of the delight it is to share this amazing evening with strangers that can become friends in an instant.

Close your eyes and immerse yourself in the feeling brought by thousands of dazzling and sparkling lights, making your heart sing… once again.

Follow Le Dîner en Blanc on Social Media

Website I Twitter I Instagram I Facebook

Finlandia Drinks for Kentucky Derby

Leave a reply

The countdown for the Kentucky Derby is on!
Finlandia has created a number of exciting and delicious cocktails such as The Finlandia Oaks Lily (Official Drink of the Kentucky Derby) and the Finnish Line to celebrate the most exciting two minutes in sports. Whether you’re in attendance or at home watching on the big-screen, everyone can be a part of the fun with Finlandia drinks!

The Finlandia Oaks Lily®
1 ¼ oz. Finlandia Classic Vodka
1 oz. Sweet and Sour Mix
¼ oz. Triple Sec
3 oz. Cranberry Juice
Combine ingredients over crushed ice in glass. Garnish with a fresh blackberry and lemon peel.

The Finnish Line
1 ¼ oz. Finlandia Grapefruit Vodka
4 oz. Sparkling Grapefruit Water
Grapefruit Slice
Combine ingredients over crushed ice. Garnish with a grapefruit slice.

Baby Goth Releases “So High”

Leave a reply

BABY GOTH RELEASES NEW TRACK “SO HIGH”

FEATURED AS THIS WEEK’S ‘SOUNDCLOUD ARTIST TO WATCH’

Baby Goth releases her new track “So High.”

Listen to “So High”: HERE

Baby Goth was recently named this week’s ‘SoundCloud Artist To Watch’ spotlighting her new song “So High.” The track is the follow up to the release of her self-titled EP BABY GOTH, which features previously released tracks “Swimming” feat. Trippie Redd and Lil Xan, “Mary” and “Sugar” feat. Wiz Khalifa. The singer recently wrapped her tour with Kodie Shane and will be performing at Rolling Loud Miami in May.

Follow Baby Goth on Social Media

Instagram I Twitter I Facebook I YouTube I Spotify

Harold Robinson Foundation “The Pedal on the Pier” Fundraiser

Leave a reply

Harold Robinson Foundation “The Pedal on the Pier” fundraiser transforms Santa Monica Pier into a high energy outdoor cycling studio to raise money for the foundation’s Camp Ubuntu, which provides LA’s underprivileged children with a unique camp experience. The lessons and experiences these children learn at Camp Ubuntu enrich their lives and empower them with necessary skills needed to better themselves at home, across their communities and throughout life. Pedal on the Pier raises over a million dollars each year, totaling over six million dollars, and hopes to far surpass those numbers this year.

With the Pacific Ocean as the backdrop, Pedal on the Pier’s 5-hour spin-a-thon features teams riding on indoor cycling bikes provided by Stages Cycling, live musical performances, DJs, spin instructors from Revolution Fitness Santa Monica, celebrities, athletes, food and drinks from local restaurants, influential brands and fun festivities in the sun. Sponsors include iHeart Radio and Tito’s Vodka.

In order to participate as a rider you can join a team or start a team. Each team must raise a minimum of $2,500 for the Harold Robinson Foundation to have a bike reserved. Registered riders will receive a free T-shirt, swag bag and a meal ticket and access to the 21 and over lounge with hosted alcoholic beverages from sponsors. There will also be a limited number of $100 spectator tickets which includes access to the festivities and hosted food and beverages from local vendors, as well as a cash bar with beer, wine and cocktails.

In past years, Pedal on the Pier has attracted celebrities such as Hilary & Haylie Duff, Steve McQueen Jr., Evander Holyfield, David Duchovny, Rosanna Arquette, Molly Sims, Craig Robinson, DJ Mustard, MC Hammer, Debbie Allen, Flea and Luc Robataille. This year should be equally fun and exciting – their motto is WE SPIN, KIDS WIN!

Here is the promo VIDEO for this year’s event.

WHEN:

June 2, 2019

11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Red carpet begins at 9:30 a.m

WHERE:

Santa Monica Pier

200 Santa Monica Pier

Santa Monica, CA 90401

Participants can register as a “Team” (1-5 riders) with a minimum fundraising commitment of $2,500 per bike or purchase a spectator tickets for $100 which includes access to the festivities and hosted food and beverages from local vendors, as well as a cash bar with beer, wine and cocktails. Tickets and registration are available at www.pedalonthepier.com and click on REGISTER.

10 Artists You Need To Know: Suzi Wu

Leave a reply

You made it. You survived all the transportation nightmares, fashion crises and weather scares that accompany just about every major music festival, and now you’re scoping out the grounds with your friends, ready to absorb hour after hour of epic live performances.

The hard part is over, right? Wrong. You paid a boatload of cash to attend Coachella or Bonnaroo or Woodstock 50, but hours of your day can be wasted wandering from stage to stage if you don’t know which undercard bands and artists are actually worth your time.

Suzi Wu

From: London

Formed in: 2017

Signed to: Def Jam Records

Listen if you love: Halsey, Lorde, Charli XCX

See her at: Governor’s Ball (May 31-June 2, Randall’s Island Park, New York)

“I’m too scared to live, too stoned to die,” sings Suzi Wu, a daring U.K. newcomer who merges classic British punk attitudes with gloomy modern soundscapes — imagine if Joe Strummer was a 20-year-old woman writing about how the world sucks as she blasts skittering hip-hop beats from her basement. Wu’s new EP, Error 404, was just released last month, and it’s a striking follow-up to her brash introduction, 2017’s Teenage Witch EP, which scored the stone-faced singer a deal with Def Jam Records and earned her a heap of buzz in pop circles. Find her on Randall’s Island this year.

MIT Study: Clinical Decision Support Software

Leave a reply

As concerns mount about the overuse of powerful and costly diagnostic imaging tests, such as CT scans and MRIs, a new study from MIT suggests that software designed to help doctors make better decisions could decrease certain scans by about 6%. The results of the study are published in the journal PLOS ONE.

“There is a lot of debate about the health risks and high costs that stem from the overuse of potentially inappropriate tests,” says Joseph Doyle, the Erwin H. Schell Professor of Management and Applied Economics at the MIT Sloan School of Management, and one of the authors of the study. “Our research shows that technology can improve healthcare delivery by helping physicians make the right decisions about which diagnostic scans to use when.”

This is the first large-scale study where physicians and other healthcare providers were randomized to receive Clinical Decision Support (CDS) software to guide imaging decisions. The CDS provides information about whether a test they order for a given patient is appropriate based on guidelines from the American College of Radiology. Beginning next year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have put in place new regulations that require imaging orders to be accompanied by a CDS recommendation in order to be reimbursed by Medicare.

Doyle and his colleagues—Sarah Abraham, Laura Feeney, and Amy Finkelstein of MIT, and Sarah Reimer of Aurora Health Care—conducted a yearlong trial of CDS software at Aurora Health Care, the largest healthcare system in Wisconsin. The study involved 3,511 healthcare providers, half of whom were randomly assigned to receive the tool. The control group continued to order images as they had prior to when the trial began.

“Going in, we didn’t know whether doctors in the treatment group would be receptive to the technology,” says Doyle. “If the system recommended a different test from the one that was ordered, would the physician consider changing course? We also worried about the potential of alert fatigue, which happens when people are exposed to a large number of frequent alarms and consequently become desensitized to them.”

The researchers found that CDS helped reduce targeted scans by about 6% relative to the control group. CT scans—the most common high-cost imaging type, which also carries the greatest concerns about over-ordering—were responsible for four-fifths of the overall reduction in targeted scans. While the software changed the nature of image orders, it did not change the number of images ordered overall. The effects persisted over time, suggesting that this type of alert can continue to affect ordering even with concerns about alert fatigue more generally.

The study was supported by Arnold Ventures. The philanthropy funds randomized controlled trials in healthcare, justice, and education, to understand problems and identify policy solutions, and it was conducted in coordination with J-PAL North America[LF1] , which also supports such randomized evaluations. With the impending wave of digital-health tools designed to guide physician decision-making, randomizing the rollout of these tools provides a golden opportunity to test how doctors respond to the information in a rigorous way.

“Our study was meant to understand whether software alone has potential to help doctors improve their decision-making around ordering these expensive and often risky tests because such an intervention is easily scaled,” says Prof. Doyle. “This is especially the case for diagnostic testing given the imminent mandate that CDS be used for high-cost imaging to be eligible for Medicare reimbursement. Further understanding of the most effective ways to employ the technology beyond simply showing the information about the guidelines remains an important area for future research.”