“Castillo’s musical prowess is certainly claiming a growing platform in today’s music scene.” –V Magazine
“Alaina Castillo’s star continues to rise.” –Teen Vogue
“Houston’s Alaina Castillo continues to make waves” –Complex
“Alaina Castillo is having a moment” –Clash
“She’s about to hit the big time very soon” –Wonderland Magazine
Last week, Houston-raised, Los Angeles-based genre-bending artist Alaina Castillo released the stunning performance video of “pass you by” via DIY Mag. Click HERE to watch.
Buy/ Stream the voicenotes “pass you by” is a track off her new EP the voicenotes. The 4-song project includes current single “just a boy,” that already has over 7 million Spotify streams and was created alongside her regular collaborator, Romans (Lewis Capaldi, Ella Mai, Demi Lovato, Khalid). The single marks her largest song to date. In addition to the EP, Alaina also released the Spanish version, mensajes de voz, reflecting the bilingual nature of her music. This Friday, Alaina will bring her EP to life physically through a merch collection consisting of tees, hoodies, jackets and slippers, in addition to an exclusive 2-sided Vinyl pre-order through Urban Outfitters. Click HERE for more info.
Alaina said on the release, “so excited to finally launch my new merch! ♥︎ we designed it with an amazing creative group called Dead Happy and were able to come up with sick visuals that really bring the voicenotes ep to life. the quality of the merch was also super important because we wanted it to feel soft but also durable. i can’t wait to see what everyone thinks of the final results! ♥︎” The artist – who sings in both the English and Spanish language – combines her Latin roots with her love of R&B, pop and hip-hop, and has cultivated a diehard online following of over 2.5 million online fans and counting. She has 40 million streams to date, with almost 840K YouTube subscribers. Her first single “i don’t think i love you anymore,” released in October, has over 4 million YouTube views to date, with track “no importa,” taken from her debut EP antisocial butterfly, gaining half a million views in its first week.
Alabama Shakes guitarist Heath Fogg returns with Sun on Shade, the debut album from his new project of the same name. Set for June 26 release via ATO Records, the album examines the power and fragility of the human spirit, particularly in the face of addiction.
“Tiger Lilies,” the first single, was unveiled today. Lloyd Buchanan (Alabama Shakes, Brittany Howard) takes the mic on the deep-grooving track, which is a soulful reminder to make each day count and to cherish the moments spent with loved ones. Listen to “Tiger Lilies” here.
Fogg produced Sun on Shade and wrote the album’s nine tracks. He was joined by Alabama Shakes bandmates Ben Tanner (keyboards), Zac Cockrell (bass) and Steve Johnson (drums), plus a few local friends. They recorded the album at the Muscle Shoals studio of Tanner, who engineered. In addition to Buchanan, vocalists include Sam Doores (Deslondes, Hurray for the Riff Raff) and Shonna Tucker (Drive-By Truckers).
“Lyrically, it’s just a conversation with a couple of friends,” explains Fogg, “I never set out to do anything close to a solo record and I still don’t see it that way.”
Sun on Shade is a collection of cautionary tales for those who’ve yet to wander down the wrong path. For those who have wandered off, it’s a beacon and suggests that while time moves quickly, it hasn’t run out. It’s not too late to change.
Fogg recalls, “Around the time my second child was born, one of my best friends died and another told everybody he was going to rehab for heroin.”
Fatalism and faith bookend Sun on Shade. Fogg is unblinking in detailing the danger lurking in album opener “Light Behind the Eyes” as Doores declares, “You’re gonna die if you keep on living this way.” But the final line of the closer, “Up from the Water,” holds out an unmistakable hand of hope, as Buchanan warmly croons, “One of these days I will rise up from the water.”
“Electronic artists will make records where every song has a featured vocalist on it,” says Fogg. “I wanted the album to be like that – like a mixtape or a collaborative collage of ideas and artists. I just see it like a team, and for this game I got picked as the team captain.”
Gold-certified and critically acclaimed Los Angeles-based, New York-born rock band The Score—Eddie Anthony and Edan Dover— unleash a new single entitled “The Champion.”
“The world and society is in transition. We desperately need champions to shine their light on positive change and are grateful to all those who have stood up offer their voices & skills to create an impact. Whether that is in the streets or in our hospitals, there are Champions in this country and across the globe who are putting themselves at risk to make the world a better place. This song is meant to keep that spark alive,” the band said on the track.
“The Champion” arrives on the heels of The Score’s single “Best Part.” Check out the animated music video that has generated nearly 150k views here. Continuing to gain steam, the band notably just crossed 3.8 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
Depeche Mode and Live Nation have partnered to bring audiences around the world together for a one time only live stream of the full concert film “LiVE SPiRiTS” from Depeche Mode’s boundary-breaking, feature-length documentary and concert film, “Depeche Mode: SPiRiTS in the Forest.” Fans will be able to watch the full version of “LiVE SPiRiTS” from the comfort and safety of their own homes via Live Nation’s YouTube channel as well as their Live From Home platform on Thursday, June 25th at 12pm PT/3pm EST.
Although portions of “LiVE SPiRiTS,” which was filmed at the iconic Waldbühne (“Forest Stage”) in Berlin, have appeared in the documentary, never before has the film been seen uninterrupted in its entirety; now fans can feel they are part of the action and experience the magic themselves.
To celebrate today’s announcement, Depeche Mode is treating fans to a video of “Cover Me” from “LiVE SPiRiTS.” Click here to watch “Cover Me”, one of the key tracks from Depeche Mode’s acclaimed 14th studio album Spirit.
This special concert experience is in anticipation of the release of “Depeche Mode: SPiRiTS in the Forest” to DVD and Blu-Ray on June 26, 2020, which features not only the documentary but also “LiVE SPiRiTS” and a plethora of other special content. Pre-order here.
This special four-disc (two video discs plus two audio discs) configuration presents the definitive “Depeche Mode: SPiRiTS in the Forest” experience at its most immersive, and will be available in both DVD and Blu-Ray formats. The package’s two video discs contain the “SPiRiTS in the Forest” documentary, alongside “LiVE SPiRiTS.” In addition to the two video discs, the package includes two CDs containing the “LiVE SPiRiTS” soundtrack, the live audio recording from the performance.
WITI Hosts Its First Virtual Women in Technology Summit June 23-24, 2020
WITI (Women in Technology International), the leading advocate for innovation,
inclusivity and STEAM, kicks-off its first virtual Women in Technology Summit tomorrow, June 23, 2020. Themed ‘Adapt and Innovate’, the two-day summit is designed to spotlight leaders in technology and innovation, boost critical thinking and inspire students to pursue STEAM careers. This year’s summit will also address the impact of the pandemic on women in tech and the job market.
WITI launched the summit 26 years ago when there were no conferences geared towards supporting women in technology and business. Today, the Women in Technology summit is a premiere global tech conference, where professionals come to learn about trends, develop new skills and grow their business network.
“We will continue to provide the skills and tools women need to navigate the new normal and succeed in today’s digital world,” said Carolyn Leighton, CEO and founder, WITI. “This virtual summit offers an even broader global platform, with more opportunities for professionals to learn and interact with each other, irrespective of their location.”
Featured Speakers and Topics:
Blue Shield of California’s Karen Xie: How emerging technologies are transforming the way we consume and deliver healthcare.
Deloitte’s Beena Ammanath: The impact of artificial intelligence on society.
Huawei Technologies’ Joy Tan: How brands can leverage modern media to deliver meaningful stories to the public.
IDC’s Michelle Bailey: Results of the women in tech survey.
PTC’s Kathleen Mitford: The impact of diverse teams on innovation and tips on advocating diversity within an organization.
Trans Sahara Investment’s Ngozi Bell: Economic opportunities in a post COVID-19 era.
Rene Redwood, creator of the bi-partisan Glass Ceiling Commission: How businesses can address systemic racism.
Janice Kaplan, author of The Genius of Women: Powerful forces that have rigged the system against women and celebrating those who have triumphed.
BrainCandyLabs: Spotlight students and professionals who have been inspired by STEAM, including youngest astronaut-in-training Alyssa Carson, Ph.D. student Jordan Harrod and host of FOX’s Xploration Outerspace Emily Calandrelli.
WITI Hall of Fame Alumnae Genevieve Bell, Sara Rushinek and Elizabeth Xu: Staying motivated, overcoming problems and traits great leaders should possess.
Take the 2020 WITI-IDC Survey
Summit Overview:
More than 100 speakers and coaches will inspire and educate the 10,000 professionals who will be attending the event virtually.
Topics range from innovation and technology to leadership and growth.
The summit is sprinkled with keynotes and workshops to interactive networking and career fair.
Review the full agenda at WITI Summit 2020.
About WITI:
WITI (Women in Technology International) is committed to empowering innovators, inspiring future generations and building inclusive cultures, worldwide. WITI is redefining the way women and men collaborate to drive innovation and business growth and is helping corporate partners create and foster gender inclusive cultures. A leading authority of women in technology and business, WITI has been
advocating and recognizing women’s contributions in the industry for more than 30 years. The organization delivers leading edge programs and platforms for individuals and companies — designed to empower professionals, boost competitiveness and cultivate partnerships, globally.
WITI’s ecosystem includes more than three million professionals, 60 networks and 300 partners, worldwide. To learn more, please visit HERE.
OmniPathology today announced that it has received an FDA Emergency Use Authorization EUA letter for its Omni-COVID-19 Assay polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. OmniPathology is offering its reliable and sensitive new coronavirus test to Los Angeles area healthcare facilities and businesses with 24-hour turnaround on lab results to help minimize the spread of COVID-19.
Omni-COVID-19 Test uses Real-Time (RT) PCR technology on the BD Max platform to detect SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing the COVID-19 pandemic. The test is performed on respiratory samples obtained by healthcare professionals.
“Receiving FDA Emergency Use Authorization is a major milestone for OmniPathology. Our assay passed a thorough and rigorous independent review by the FDA,” said Mohammad Kamal, MD, Founder and CEO of OmniPathology.
As an independent, physician-owned and operated pathology lab, OmniPathology also can be more responsive in performing coronavirus testing. OmniPathology is committed to delivering test results within 24 hours, which should help reduce exposure to COVID-19 since infected patients are notified sooner and can take immediate steps to self-quarantine before they expose others.
“Our team is proud and honored to be part of the solution for the pandemic since we realize that accurate and reliable testing is the cornerstone of the fight against coronavirus,” said Dr. Kamal.
“The fast response by OmniPathology and its team is a testament to the company’s commitment to our role as a leading laboratory and its understanding of our responsibility in helping to find solutions to this national crisis. Since the release of our test in March 2020, we have been able to help patients in Pasadena and greater Los Angeles by providing test results within 24 hours.”
In addition to supplying Omni-COVID-19 assay tests to Los Angeles-area healthcare providers, OmniPathology is working with area businesses, including Hollywood studios, sports franchises, and others, to regularly test workers for coronavirus.
OmniPathology continues to work on increasing its testing capacity to ensure its ability to meet the growing demand for testing as businesses reopen, companies begin to test employees, and schools start to test students and faculty.
About OmniPathology: OmniPathology is a physician-owned pathology laboratory located in Pasadena, California. It specializes in Gastrointestinal pathology, GYN, and male health and provides state-of-the-art molecular and cytogenetic testing to complement its pathology and immunohistochemistry testing with a specific focus on screening and early detection of anal, cervical, colon and esophageal cancers. OmniPathology’s infectious menu includes HPV, other STD and gynecological, gastrointestinal, and respiratory infectious panels.
Actress and philanthropist Bella Thorne aligns with hemp clothing line DRIHP
Actress and philanthropist, Bella Thorne aligns with clothing line DRIHP. In addition, influencer Rachel Cook and model and social media personality, Jay Alvarrez have come on board as Brand Ambassadors for the new environmentally-safe hemp line. The line officially launched Saturday, May 30, 2020 on their website. DRIHP was founded by millennial entrepreneur, Luke Dandrea, who is also the founder of the revolutionary hemp flower, hemp seed and hemp crop insurance company, Clone Connect.
DRIHP is more than eco-friendly hemp apparel; DRIHP is a movement that Dandrea hopes will be a launching pad to help save the planet! With its multiple uses, Dandrea’s mission is to educate the consumer one product at a time on how industrial hemp is the game changing component in the science of global warming. One of the many uses of industrial hemp is textiles, which is what DRIHP is focused on. The fibers from the stalks of a hemp plant create eco-friendly hemp apparel and the H in DRIHP stands for Hemp. DRIHP textiles use 1/20 of the water that is required to grow and process traditional cotton fabrics. The line will carry men and women’s clothing and accessories. DRIHP is currently giving away 20,0000 breathable and stylish hemp face masks to customers that go to the website and sign up.
When Dandrea wanted to build out the idea of launching the first major hemp apparel and accessories brand, he approached Barrett Wissman, Chairman of IMG Artists and principal of the social media management firm Two Pillar Management to build out and manage the company as well as engage his higher end talent such as actress Bella Thorne and influencers Jay Alvarrez, and Rachel Cook to be the first ambassadors for the brand.
Stated Wissman, “It has been an honor to help build out a company that is not only launching a new, cutting-edge fashion brand, but one that is at the forefront of a new environmental movement.”
Thorne a long-time cannabis enthusiast is the co-founder of her own very successful cannabis and CBD brand line called Forbidden Flowers, which launched through Glass House Group in October 2019. Understanding the history of hemp, she thought it was important to jump on aboard to this project to help educate her fans, etc. about the environmental benefits of hemp and clear up some of the misconceptions of placing hemp in the same category as cannabis.
“It’s important for me to use my voice to spread the beauty and knowledge of this world. It was mind blowing to find out that so many people when you discuss hemp put it in the same category as cannabis,” stated Thorne. It was crazy to watch how their minds would automatically shut down to the concept. When Luke approached me about DRIHP, I was like, yes, yes… Let’s save the planet dude and let’s educate the world on this wonderful, amazing product, that we can make clothes out of, build houses with, eat when we are hungry, the uses for it are virtually limitless! Hemp is the answer to saving the planet and I am stoked to be able to play a small part of that education. If you can change one person’s mind… you can help change the world.”
“Bella bleeds authenticity and so does the brand. She caught on immediately. Jay set the foundation early on and realized his platform was ready to learn about environmentalism,” stated Dandrea on the collaboration with Thorne and Alvarez.
About Bella Thorne:
Bella Thorne is an actress, best-selling author, director, philanthropist musician and entrepreneur. She entered the entertainment business at six months of age and now at twenty-two has amassed an empire that stretches from acting to various entrepreneurial ventures and philanthropic endeavors that have set her apart from your normal millennial entertainer. Her unapologetic authenticity and ability to be raw with her fans has generated a loyal and diehard following on her social media pages, which consists of 23M on Instagram, 6.8M on Twitter, 542k subscribers on YouTube. She is a force to be reckoned with and is just getting started. Follow Bella Thorne on Instagram.
About Jay Alvarrez:
Jay Alvarrez is a cinematographer, photographer, model and social media personality. Born in Oahu Hawaii, the 25-year-old has turned himself into an impressive brand on Social Media. As a model and extreme sports enthusiast, he has grown an impressive fanbase throughout his mind-blowing videos on YouTube, in which he is jumping out of airplanes, driving rough breathtaking landscapes and often teams up with other influencers or superstars like Kygo or Alexis Ren. With way more than a 100 million views on some of his or his clients’ YouTube videos. Alvarez is definitely one of the biggest male influencers in social media right now and the main face for campaigns with Coca Cola, Armani, Hyundai, Omega Watches and many others. He not only appears in their campaigns, but he is also a creative director shooting the campaigns as well. Follow Jay Alvarrez on Instagram.
About Luke Dandrea:
Serial Entrepreneur, Luke Dandrea, first started solo in his garage with his laptop controlling the majority of plant sales in California based off of a top Digital Marketing company for lead generation that he formed. The garage turned into an office when the farm bill passed, opening up access to sell into the majority of the US. His passion and leadership in devoting his life to educating hemps benefits quickly turned him into a force to be reckoned with. He landed the main speaking role at an international hemp convention and foresaw that industrial hemp will be the way of the future, which is why DRIHP Hemp Apparel’s vision became a quick reality. He stands by the saying “it’s not about selling a shirt; it’s about educating all of the benefits of hemp. Hemp can save our planet and I won’t stop until realization of the masses is apparent” It doesn’t hurt that he controls the branding strategy for DRIHP which is what he feels is his strong suit. It’s a rarity to go 3/3 on an entrepreneurs first companies, but his passion and purpose have always been the north star, and it’s showed to pay off.
DRIHP is an industrial Hemp, environmentally safe apparel line founded in 2020 by entrepreneur Luke Dandrea. The H in DRIHP stands for Hemp and it’s called DRIHP because Hemp uses 1/20 of water compared to cotton to grow and process. In addition, a Hemp plant is the fastest CO2 to biomass conversion tool. In fact, one acre of Hemp produces more of the air we breathe than 25 acres of trees. Most products made from wood can be made from Hemp, which would reduce deforestation. DRIHP is more than apparel line… it is a CONCEPT of Life. It’s not about selling a shirt; it’s about educating that masses that Hemp can make for a better world When something is so new and or “reborn” such as Hemp, it requires those who understand to educate. DRIHP’s mission is to seek out people with impact who have an authentic passion for the movement to help educate the masses and save the planet! Follow DRIHP on Instagram.
Don’t you dare put those Pride flags away just yet! Happy Pride Month Celebrating the Freedom to be who you are……. We Honor the Legacy of James Baldwin Born in Harlem, New York, August 2, 1924, James Baldwin was an essayist, novelist, playwright, poet, and social justice advocate. Baldwin is regarded as one of the foremost intellectual thinkers of the 20th century for voicing his concerns around identity, creativity and freedom. As an openly gay man during a time when homosexuality was taboo, Baldwin explored the intersections of his identities through a number of published works. Baldwin’s work considered what it meant to be human and explored our common struggles, victories, and defeats during one of the most turbulent times for blacks in America. Some of his writings include: Notes of a Native Son and Go Tell It on the Mountain.
With a bruising musicality and a confrontational demeanor, Fredo Bang is a budding star. Unafraid to confront people who’ve had his name in their mouths, Fredo shares “Receipts,” his new video single. Laying waste to a DJ Chose beat, Fredo barks razor-sharp bars of warning to the opps, declaring in blunt terms that he’s not one to be trifled with: “Say you got them drakes, b*tch you lyin’/Where you keep em at?/Say you got a body, but you lyin’/Need a receipt with that.” In the video, Fredo flexes with his homie and his Rottweiler in a foreign-filled garage. “Receipts” is the latest video to emerge in the wake of Most Hated, Fredo’s recent mixtape.
Executive-produced by Moneybagg Yo, Most Hated is Fredo’s most succinct, focused, and successful effort to date. Released in April, Most Hated propelled Fredo to #1 on Rolling Stone’s Breakthrough 25 chart for emerging artists, reached the Top 10 of Apple Music’s all-genre albums chart, and earned the top spot on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart. The rapper recently surpassed 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify and 175 million total views on his YouTube channel.
Spanning 12 tracks, not a second of Most Hated goes to waste, packing in guest appearances from the biggest stars in street rap and balancing battle cries like “Vest Up” (5 million views) and “Waitin’ 4” (2 million views) with smooth lady-killing jams like “Saucy” (500k views since its release last week) and heartfelt love songs like “Let Me Tell You (Kianna).” The tape boasts bouncy production from Fredo’s frequent collaborators DJ Chose and Hardbody B-Eazy, as well as contributions from Yung Tago and others. Featuring appearances from Lil Baby, YNW Melly, Moneybagg Yo, Tee Grizzley, and Ceefineass, Most Hated arrives via Bang Biz Ent./Def Jam Recordings.
About Fredo Bang
With his deep, barking drawl and a natural affinity for melody, Fredo Bang (Fredrick Givens) is the next rhymer to rise out the Bayou. The highs and lows of his life encompass turning down a scholarship at Texas Southern University in order to study closer to home, and a stiff jail sentence for aggravated battery that was commuted in 2018. At age 23, the Baton Rouge native’s rhymes have now won the South. He has collaborated with everyone from YNW Melly to Moneybagg Yo to Kevin Gates.
2018’s 2 Face Bang mixtape put Fredo on the map with the breakout single “Oouuhh” and a streak of hits including “Shootas on the Roof” and “Father” (over 22 million YouTube views). The street took deeper notice in 2019, with the Big Ape mixtape and a non-stop string of regional single + video hits that included “Oouuh” Remix featuring Kevin Gates, “Gangsta Talk” featuring NLE Choppa, and “Story To Tell” (Remix) featuring Moneybagg Yo.
Fredo entered into a partnership with Def Jam in the fall. The hits continued unabated with “Face Down” and “Vest Up,” then into 2020 with “Yo Slime,” and “Waitin 4” (with a beat from Hardbody B-Eazy and DJ Chose). Fredo’s next mixtape, Pain Made Me Numb hit in November, with the single + video releases “Cap A Lot” and “Slidin.” April 2020 brought the back-to-back releases of the single + video “Trust Issues,” and Fredo’s newest mixtape, Most Hated.
In pursuit of the Other and a connection to Britain’s captivating natural world, Jini Reddy searches for the magical in the landscape. Alone on a remote mountaintop one dark night, she hears a mysterious voice.
Propelled by the memory and after years of dreaming about it, Jini Reddy dares to delve into the “wanderlands” of Britain, heading off in search of the magical in the landscape.
A London journalist with multicultural roots and a perennial outsider, she determinedly sets off on this unorthodox path. Serendipity and her inner compass guide her around the country in pursuit of the Other and a connection to Britain’s captivating natural world. Where might this lead? And if you know what it is to be Othered yourself, how might this color your experiences? And what if, in invoking the spirit of the land, ‘it’ decides to make its presence felt?
Whether following a ‘cult’ map to a hidden well that refuses to reveal itself, attempting to persuade a labyrinth to spill its secrets, embarking on a coast-to-coast pilgrimage or searching for a mystical land temple, Jini depicts a whimsical, natural Britain. Along the way, she tracks down ephemeral wild art, encounters women who worship The Goddess, falls deeper in love with her birth land and struggles – but mostly fails – to get to grips with its lore. Throughout, she rejoices in the wildness we cannot see and celebrates the natural beauty we can, while offering glimpses of her Canadian childhood and her Indian parents’ struggles in apartheid-era South Africa.
Wanderland is a book in which the heart leads, all things are possible and the Other, both wild and human, comes in from the cold. It is a paean to the joy of roaming, both figuratively and imaginatively, and to the joy of finding your place in the world.
“A joyous celebration of the beauty we can see and the magic we can’t.” – Tay Aziz, BBC Wildlife
“…doesn’t just open your eyes to the Isles’ mystical history, but also your mind to the possibilities of what spirits may be lurking there.” – Wanderlust Magazine
“[Jini Reddy] rejects the stereotypes placed on people of color, and crafts a beautiful story of self-discovery and exploration of the natural world. – Brown Girl Magazine
Wanderland: A Search for Magic in the Landscape by Jini Reddy goes on-sale 6/30/20
About Jini Reddy:
Jini Reddy is an award-winning author and journalist. She was born in London to Indian parents who grew up in apartheid-era South Africa, and was raised in Montreal, Canada. Jini has a degree in Geography, an M.A. in English Literature and a passion for writing on travel, nature and spirituality. Her byline has appeared in The Guardian, Time magazine, The Metro, The Times, Sunday Times Style, The Sunday Telegraph, National Geographic Traveler, BBC Wildlife, Resurgence & The Ecologist and other publications. Her first book, Wild Times, was published in 2016 and she is a contributor to the forthcoming Women on Nature anthology.
