Posts made in May 2021

LIL NAS X CELEBRATES INDIVIDUALITY

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By Hannah DiPilato

Notable musician Lil Nas X has brought his signature style and voice straight to the page in his new entertaining alphabet picture book. C Is for Country follows a young cowboy and his sidekick, Panini the pony, as they use the ABCs to seek out adventure in wide-open pastures, embrace family, and celebrate individuality, all during a single day. The book features bold, bright illustrations from award-winning artist Theodore Taylor III which are sure to keep kids engaged.

“C Is for Country goes out to every amazing kid out there who sang along to ‘Old Town Road’ on repeat and helped change my life forever,” said Lil Nas X. “I hope this book inspires them and makes learning the alphabet a thousand times more fun. I’m so happy with how it turned out, and I can’t wait for the world to see it,” he continued.

Lil Nas X had a goal to promote individuality in his book so children everywhere are able to embrace who they are. The artist has never been one to shy away from his true self, releasing music that speaks to who he is and instantly creating hits. Soon after releasing the children’s book, it hit number eight across all kid’s books in the world Lil Nas X announced in a tweet.

“A is for adventure. Every day is a brand-new start!,” an excerpt from the book on the website says. “B is for boots—whether they’re big or small, short or tall. And C is for country.”

Earlier in the year, Lil Nas X appeared on Sesame Street’s, The Not-Too-Late Show to sing Elmo’s Song with Elmo himself. The artist also made an appearance at Lander Elementry School in 2019 to perform for the children there. These appearances have certainly helped him create a younger fan base and an audience for his new picture book. His hit song, “Old Town Road” ended up being a smashing success with the younger crowds as well. Recently, Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” remix featuring Billy Ray Cyrus has officially become 14x platinum and is now the most certified song in music history.

Lil Nas X has been embracing his younger fan base he isn’t necessarily self-conscious about it. “I’m well aware that life and careers and everything goes in chapters,” the rapper said in NPR. “That’s the chapter I’m in right now and I’m OK with that.” C Is for Country was made for kids ages three to seven and is sure to help little ones learn the alphabet.

Lil Nas X is not the first celebrity to check “write a children’s book” off of their bucket list. Madonna, a well-known star to all ages has written a number of books for kids. Her first book, The English Roses, became the biggest and fastest-selling children’s book by a first-time author. The book, which references Madonna’s personal experiences, features many moral life lessons and has been published in 42 languages. Madonna then went on to write eleven more books in this series which has now flourished into a book series that features 12 chapter books. Madonna lovers can even buy an audiobook version where Madonna reads all of the stories aloud.

Madonna has also written a number of other children’s books aside from The English Roses series including, Yakov and the Seven Thieves and The Adventures of Abdi. In her stories, Madonna not only references her childhood experiences while teaching life lessons, but she also promotes gender equality and uses her Jewish background to do so.

Another notable celebrity, Jamie Lee Curtis, has made her mark in the world of children’s books. She has written twelve bestselling children’s books including When I Was Little: A Four-Year-Old’s Memoir of Her Youth, Today I Feel Silly: And Other Moods That Make My Day and Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born. These books have been a great success in teaching kids important life lessons in a silly and entertaining way.

Curtis said that her daughter was her first inspiration for writing children’s books. “My four-year-old said something funny to me one day,” explains Jamie Lee Curtis. “She walked into my office, all petulant and sweet, and announced that ‘when I was little I used to wear diapers, but now I use the potty.'”

“The idea that she had thought about her life in the past,” Curtis continues, “when she was really just four, made me smile. I wrote on a piece of paper: ‘When I Was Little: A Four-Year-Old’s Memoir of Her Youth.’ I then wrote a list of things that she used to not be able to do and now could. By the end, I realized I had written a book.”

Although Lil Nas X didn’t grasp his inspiration from any one person in particular, his youthful spirit and young fanbase have certainly set him up to be a successful writer for children. It’s clear the young cowboy in the book is inspired by Lil Nas X complete with a bedazzled, pink cowboy outfit.

It’s not just actors and singers becoming authors, famous athletes such as LeBron James, Alex Morgan and Mia Hamm have also become authors. LeBron James’ book, I Promise, was recently published in August of 2020 and encourages children to strive for greatness. This book coincides with the I Promise School, a school powered by the LeBron James Family Foundation. This school helps students that are in danger of falling through the cracks to succeed. I Promise shares a common goal with this school in helping children strive to be the best they can be.

No matter which celebrity is behind writing the pages of these books, they all have one thing in common, they hope to promote positivity and important life lessons to all children that read them. Lil Nas X is no different when it comes to C Is for Country. When celebrities use their platform to write children’s books, they are using their fame to promote life lessons to kids. This is especially useful for an artist like Lil Nas X who already has a relatively young fan base.

C is for Country is available now for purchase and can be bought in hardcover, Kindle or audiobook version. If you know a child that has been blasting “Old Town Road” on repeat, then this book is sure to be a success.

Lil Nas X Rips His Pants During SNL Performance

Lil Nas X ripped his pants during a steamy performance of “Montero” on Saturday Night Live last night. Dressed in tight, leather flame pants, Lil Nas flamboyantly trapezed across the stage with his fiery dance moves. During part of his performance, he approached the stage’s stripper pole and began gyrating his hips. After he slides down the pole, Lil Nas X can be seen grabbing his crotch and staring with bewilderment into the camera.

However, the performer quickly regained his confidence and boldly belted the rest of “Montero” with his hand positioned over his crotch. Nas was quick make light of the situation on social media, posting a meme on Tiktok of his outfit blunder. Lil Nas X also reposted his performance on his Instagram with the caption, “a sign of the times every time that I speak.” One thing is for sure– this red-hot performer sure knows how to put on an entertaining performance.

Duncan Laurence – Small Town Boy Deluxe Edition

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Skyrocketing to the top of the global conversation with nearly two billion streams and widespread acclaim, Gold-certified international phenomenon Duncan Laurence expands his full-length debut album, Small Town Boy, with a very special Deluxe Edition. Stream the Deluxe Edition of Small Town Boy HERE.

He re-upped and recharged the record with three brand new originals and the Sam Feldt Remix of his runaway smash “Arcade.” Among the originals, “Stars” pairs his emotionally charged vocals with a celestial hum and soft piano, while acoustic guitar glistens over a string-laden beat as his nostalgic lyrics echo on “Sad Old Me.” Then, there’s “I Got You.” Harp shimmers as his delivery volleys between vulnerable verses and vibrant echoes with heavenly power. Check out the full tracklisting below.

Laurence ultimately presents the definitive vision of Small Town Boy with Deluxe Edition.

In other big news, “Arcade” just picked up a gold certification from the RIAA. It notably made history as the “First Eurovision Song Contest Winner to Hit the Billboard Hot 100 since 1976.” He also recently opened up Eurovision 2021 with a showstopping performance of “Feel Something.”

“Arcade” took the No. 1 spot on Spotify’s Global Viral chart last year and has since received radio airplay in 58 countries. With nearly 350 million U.S. streams included in the song’s near 2 billion combined global streams tally, the Dutch artist has already had remarkable success stateside. The song won the Eurovision Song Contest 2019.

His second single, “Love Don’t Hate It,” appeared on 16 New Music Friday playlists, including the U.S. Premiering the official video, Billboard observed, “[Laurence] mediates the battle between love and hate to a peaceful truce. As the growling guitar and low, thudding piano in the verses are stacked up against Laurence‘s impactful falsetto, the song embodies the confrontation of polar forces with the singer elevating the brightest moments to a decisive victory.”

About Duncan Laurence

Growing up in the tiny Dutch town of Hellevoetsluis, Duncan Laurence discovered the healing power of music. Holed up in his bedroom avoiding the bullies who harassed him for his love of theatre and art, Laurence sang, turning his darker moments into a light he could spread to anyone who’d listen.

With his debut album, Small Town Boy, Laurence makes his younger self proud, writing the next chapter in a story that’s become a vision of perseverance and love. And he creates the cinematic scores to back it up, mixing the rich instrumentation of alternative rock, the delicacy of folk, and the dynamic swells of modern pop.

An Interview with Vax Force

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By: Matthew Anthenelli

VAX Force is a team of all-black women from Springfield, Massachusetts who are bringing vaccine awareness and accessibility to their community. Beginning earlier this spring, the COVID-19 vaccination began its rollout to non-essential workers all across the globe. Whether it be from misinformation or lack of access, many people both in the United States and worldwide have not yet been vaccinated. Studies show that many marginalized communities are lacking access to vaccination sites and other resources. There’s also a concerning percentage of the population that are receiving and spreading misinformation about the science behind the vaccine.

VAX Force is a group of amazing and inspiring black women from Springfield, Massachusetts who have taken these matters into their own hands. We were lucky enough to be able to ask VAX Force a few questions about their mission in their community. Read what they had to say below.

The initiative to spread vaccine awareness amidst an age of misinformation is such a dire and important action to take. What inspired you to form the Vax Force and take matters in your own hands?

Springfield, MA is the largest city in Western Mass and the third largest in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts yet much of the attention and resources were being given to Boston and the Eastern part of the state so Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris and Mayor Domenic J. Sarno took action and formed this committee so that the members could serve as direct resources for the citizens in Springfield, especially those living in vulnerable communities.

Who are the members of the Vax force? How did you come together for this amazing and inspiring cause?

There are wonderful leaders in public health, medicine, faith, research and diversity that are a part of Commissioner Caulton-Harris’s network . The Mayor and the Commissioner extended invitations to join Springfield Vax Force to select individuals and they were excited to volunteer and lend their expertise, and in some cases roll their sleeves up and join our community outreach efforts.

What groups or communities are being neglected from vaccine access the most?

When we formed Springfield Vax Force Latinx, African-American, Caribbean, African, Vietnamese and immigrant communities did not have convenient access to the vaccine. The vaccine was being distributed in suburban areas. Fortunately, through the great work of Springfield Vax Force we now have access to the vaccine in all of the neighborhoods in the city. Vaccine clinics are accessible within 1.5 miles of any neighborhood in Springfield.

Why do you think misinformation is being spread about the vaccine? Anti-vax rhetoric was popular in the early 2000s, why do you think it returned ?

There are anti-vaxxers using the digital platforms to spread misinformation and there are algorithms in place that widely circulate this disinformation wrapped in what looks like reputable sources, so folks are often seduced into sharing that information as if its factual – and it spreads like wildfire. Aside from that, there is mistrust in the medical community by marginalized groups, and when those concerns that are often valid are not addressed, it provides an opportunity for anti-vaxxers to attach falsehoods to legitimate claims.

How do you suggest that the average reader can convince loved ones or friends who may fear the side effects of the vaccine or the vaccine itself?

The beautiful thing about social media is that is rich with narratives penned by people who have been vaccinated that are very open about their experiences and even those who have experienced the worst side effects were absolutely fine within 24 hours. We also are over a year in and as time passes the studies become more longitudinal, so there is now evidence that supports the safety of the vaccine.

You are making PSAs in order to inform and educate the youth on the significance of the vaccine. Do you think that the younger generation is the largest demographic of people spreading anti-vaccine misinformation or that the problem has more prevalence in older generations ?

Older generations very quickly analyze risk versus reward when it comes to getting vaccinated and for them COVID-19 poses a far greater risk than the vaccine, and they were able to see that in real time with the death rate being more prominent in older individuals. Additionally, older individuals have been around long enough to see the positive effects of vaccines throughout the decades and the eradication of viruses like measles, chicken pox, rubella and polio. Individuals 45 and under are often the group spreading anti-vaccine misinformation.

A big part of the Vax Force’s initiative had to do with the Faith and Science vaccination clinic. Do you think misinformation surrounding vaccinations is more prevalent in religious communities?

Our research has shown that it is not. In fact, in our community, the faith leaders have been outstanding in sharing safety messages related to the COVID-19 vaccines.

How can the average person who is already vaccinated help aid your cause?

It’s important that we continue to be diligent with safety protocol. Being vaccinated does not mean that you are 100% protected against spreading COVID-19 or testing positive. Although mandates are being removed, safety practices are still an individual’s right so we urge vaccinated people to remain cautious. It also helps when vaccinated people share how seamless the process is from check in to receiving the shot, to observation.

Where can people find out more about Vax Force and their mission?

All the information you could possibly need can be found at the City of Springfield website.

The Faith and Science event was a major success. What do you have planned next in Vax Force’s future?

We are now targeting the young people in the City of Springfield ages 16-25. We have a young men’s and women’s basketball tournament coming up called Shot for Shot where young people who attend the tournament, receive promotional gifts and most importantly get vaccinated on site.

The all-black VAX Force Team of Springfield, Massachusetts

Shabazz Center × Scholly Scholarship Fund

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THE SHABAZZ CENTER AND SCHOLLY ANNOUNCE THE MALCOLM X AND DR. BETTY SHABAZZ SCHOLARSHIP FUND,TO CELEBRATE MALCOLM X’S 96th BIRTHDAY, SCHOLLY AND THE SHABAZZ CENTER WILL BE AWARDING THREE STUDENTS $10,000 SCHOLARSHIPS

To celebrate Malcolm X’s 96th birthday and to honor he and his wife, Dr. Betty Shabazz’s legacy, the Shabazz Center has partnered with the scholarship search app Scholly to launch the Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz Scholarship Fund.

Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz’s daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz, wanted to create the scholarship program to honor her parents’ commitment to education and empowerment of people of color. My father, Malcolm X, once said that, Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today, Shabazz said. The opportunity to support young developing leaders and change-makers through the Scholly Scholarship in partnership with The Shabazz Center is such a rewarding investment that equally honors the lasting legacy of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz.

Every year, thousands of graduates leave colleges and universities with millions in student debt, making it harder to begin a family, start a small business, or buy a house. Since 2015, Scholly has helped students of all ages earn more than $100 million in scholarships.

Malcolm X and his wife Betty Shabazz are icons of the civil rights movement so the Scholly team is excited to be a part of this program to help empower even more students, said Scholly CEO Christopher Gray. Also to announce such a program on Malcolm X’s birthday is a great way to honor his legacy.

In order to qualify for the scholarship, students would need to complete the application, which includes an essay writing component, to receive one of three $10,000 scholarships to be used at any college or university. Students can apply for the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Legacy Scholarship by visiting their website starting May 19th. The deadline to apply for the award is July 15th and the scholarship recipients will be announced in August.

About Scholly

Scholly is the #1 rated scholarship app in the world and has helped students win more than $100 million dollars since 2015. Scholly provides students and families access to thousands of scholarships, for college or graduate school, tailored just for them! Scholly also provides a service that gives brands, celebrities, and non profits a turn key way to create, promote, manage, and payout scholarships and student loan payoffs.

About the Shabazz Center

Rooted in our abiding belief in Black power, possibility, and sovereignty, The Shabazz Center facilitates thought exchange around racial equity, justice, and cultural production, in the spirit of Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz. Through global and local outreach, educational programming, and engagement with the African Diaspora, The Shabazz Center is a generative, action-oriented community organization committed to growing social movements that empower and prepare people for leadership in civil society.

AREA21 – Pogo

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Following the release of “La La La,” AREA21‘s debut single which has already surpassed 5 million combined streams, the adventure continues with today’s release of “Pogo.” The song exudes the feeling of being completely uninhibited, living life wild and free, which makes it the perfect soundtrack for the coming summer months. Written by Martin Garrix and Maejor, Martin also plays electric guitar on the track, one of the many talents from this multifaceted artist. Like most of their previous work, the track is a clean electronic dance bop.

AREA21’s video for “Pogo” picks up where “La La La” left off with the two alien travelers M & M having crashed landed on earth, standing on their recently crashed spaceship and running from the law. Their escape includes a very unorthodox mode of transportation and ends with a rest stop in a futuristic Las Vegas, Nevada.

About AREA21

The music of AREA21 follows a story arc of two alien travelers, M & M, who are tripping through the cosmos spreading a message of unity and good vibes when they accidentally come crashing to Earth. Their adventures are portrayed musically and visually throughout a series of songs and accompanying animated videos produced by award-winning animation studio, Titmouse (Run the Jewels, Dua Lipa,) set to roll out this spring & summer and culminating in an album due out this fall.

Alex Cuba – Mendó

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Multiple LATIN GRAMMY Winner ALEX CUBA Releases His New Album Mendó The Substance Of The Soul, Today Also Sees Alex Cuba Share New Focus Single ***I Think Of You, His First English Language Album Track In Five Years Also Features Joaquín Betancour’s Powerful Joven Jazz Band* From Alex’s Native Cuba, While The Video Takes Fans On A Ride Through His Beautiful Adopted Home of Northern Canada.**

Award winning Latin singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Alex Cuba, has just released release his new album, Mendó – and this time out, the decorated Cuban Canadian independent musician, goes bigger than he ever has before, reaching across the world to collaborate with some of Latin music’s most talented stars, ironically, while recording remotely at home.

When I began to imagine this album, I knew I didn’t want it to be small in any way. Neither did I want it to be known forever as the album that was born out of the pandemic. I was convinced that it definitely was the moment to aim at creating something very special, unique and vibrant, fueled by the very deep emotions that this time has brought out of all of us.

Written and recorded from his home in Smithers, BC, Cuba was dedicated to virtually reaching as far and wide as possible, and reach he did. From Northern British Columbia to Spain, Peru, Puerto Rico, and beyond, Cuba’s unlimited musical imagination saw him create vibrant, full-bodied songs in a wide variety of musical stylings. From flamenco to tropical, cumbia to jazz, the assortment of genres on Mendó showcase an artist with impressive musical versatility. It will come as no surprise that Cuba is credited with playing all of the instruments on the album – something he does often.

Preceded by two singles released in the Latin American market, Alex Cuba’s first Canadian single off of the project, Hablando x Hablar questions what society thinks to be true. In collaboration with an artist considered the Cubano James Brown, Cimafunk, the funk-filled song unbelievably only uses one physical instrument – an upright bass, supported by handclaps and vocals. The song creates an illusion that the listener is listening to a song that belongs to every era of American music, says Cuba.

From the healing voice of Grammy Award winning Lila Downs on Mundo Nuevo. to his colorful collaboration with world-renowned flamenco artist and Eurovision winner, Antonio Carmona, and commissioning a 13-piece horn band from his native country of Cuba, Alex’s vibrant eighth studio album is filled with international collaborations. The artwork for the album marks another international project, created by an artist in Trinidad and Tobago, who caught Cuba’s eye when he noticed her work on the cover of a book and was drawn to her unique interpretation of the African diaspora.

The album features lead track, I Think of You – a love song written in English that begins with Cuba’s signature bass and grows into a brilliantly vibrant, commanding, and adventurous song. The tune features Joaquín Betancour’s Powerful Joven Jazz Band from Alex’s native Cuba and marks his first English release on an album in over five years.

Meaning substance of the soul, Mendó is filled with beautiful, inspired, imaginative musical works – full and energetic – from the soul of a musician so immensely creative that when the world is locked down, he can find within himself the sounds of the world. Using his art as his refusal to be trapped by the circumstances surrounding him, Alex shares with listeners his Mendó, the substance of his soul, on his most powerful project to date.

A while back I had to ask myself ‘Is it me or do I actually like everything Alex Cuba releases?’ So far, the answer is: Very much! …The four-time Latin Grammy winner’s brilliant discography has evolved from Afro-Cuban music to world music, rock en español, salsa, alternative Latin and Latin crossover blends of pop, soul and jazz. And it just gets better… Irresistible, superbly minimalistic yet profoundly full …a sensory upload of sublime playing, creative arrangements and melodic delight. – NPR

Bringing his distinctive folk, funk and rock hybrid to life, the four-time Latin Grammy winner presents his new album Mendó, a testament to the respect other artists have for Alex. On this set, Cuba collaborates with renowned artists including: Antonio Carmona, Cimafunk, Lila Downs, Gian Marco, Raul Midón and Gilberto Santa Rosa. – Billboard

Fresh off his most recent Latin Grammy nominations (seven along with four wins), and notable performance on the November 2020 broadcast… and in advance of his upcoming eighth studio album… Alex Cuba, is releasing new single ‘Hablando x Hablar’ with Cuban breakout star, Cimafunk. ‘Hablando x Hablar’ is a fun and funky upbeat track that questions what we think we know to be true in society… a brave musical concept using only one physical instrument (an upright bass), handclaps, and vocals, ‘Hablando x Hablar is a bold, full bodied song, completely universal in nature, that feels like a giant production without getting bombastic… high energy performer Cimafunk has been rated by Billboard as a ‘top 10 Latin artist to watch’ with his Afro-Cuban funk-soul music style…. [While] Alex carries his Cuba within, incorporating subtle jazz influences, and tasteful, sophisticated chords and lyrics expressing his poetry in an undeniably Cuban way. His growing body of work defines a unique musical place in the Latin diaspora. – Cashbox Canada

ABOUT ALEX CUBA

Alex Cuba is a Latin Grammy/Juno winner, singer-songwriter who is not tied to tradition; Alex has a vast musical vision. His sugarcane-sweet melodies, pop-soul hooks and powerful guitar riffs, relinquish a conventional stereotype that exemplifies much of the Latin music landscape. Born Alexis Puentes in Artemisa, Cuba, was immersed in music at a very young age, joining his father’s (respected guitarist and teacher Valentin Puentes) group of 24 guitarists. Alex then went on to study electric and upright bass and touring and recording nationally and internationally. Relocating to Canada in 1999, Alex went on to record his solo debut album Humo De Tobaco (produced by Martin Terefe), which earned him a Juno award for World Music Album of the Year in 2006, with tours in Canada, Japan and the US.

In 2007, Alex released Agua Del Pozo earning him another Juno award for World Music Album of the Year in 2008. From there, Alex released his third album, a self-titled project Alex Cuba in 2009, playing shows in the US, Canada and Spain. And features his first ever English track titled If You Give Me Love. The album gained recognition on an international level. In 2010, Alex took home the award for Best New Artist at the 2010 Latin Grammy Awards, where it was also nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Album. It also followed a nominated for Best Latin Pop Album at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards and in 2011 Alex took home a BMI Latin Award for his songwriting on Nelly Furtado’s #1 Spanish hit Manos Al Aire. In 2012, Alex released his fourth album Ruido En El Sistema, which Alex received his second Socan Hagood Hardy Award for outstanding achievement in Jazz and World Music. He also won his second Latin Grammy Award – this time as a songwriter, alongside co-writer Yoel Henriquez received the award for Best Tropical Song for the Milly Quezada’s single, Toma Mi Vida. In 2013, he brought home a Latin Grammy for the video Eres Tu from Ruido En El Sistema, a video produced entirely in his hometown of Smithers.

Alex Cuba’s 5th studio album, Healer, was recorded using a live rhythm section, trading in horns for guitars and vocal harmonies. With five duets with singer songwriters, four being Canadian, Ron Sexsmith, David Myles, Alejandra Ribera and Kuba Oms as well as New Yorker Anya Marina. The album won a Latin Grammy for best Singer-songwriter and was nominated for a Grammy as best Latin Pop in 2016. In 2017, his 6th album Lo Unico Constante was released, Looking at the filin movement in Cuba of the forties that fused jazz and trova together with emotional lyrical content. Nominated for both a Latin Grammy in the singer songwriter category and Grammy for Best Latin Pop Album Alex continues his independent journey in music.

His most recent album, Sublime, incorporated the feel of Lo Unico Constante with 6 duets alongside Latin American Singer-songwriters celebrating a contemporary or Neo folk expression of the Canción Latinamericana. The release continued Alex’s recognition from his musical peers garnering his third consecutive Latin Grammy Nomination for Best Singer-Songwriter Album, and another performance slot on the global telecast.

Follow Alex Cuba via his Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and official website.

Teddy Swims x Unlearning

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After inciting excitement with millions of streams and critical acclaim this month, ace Atlanta singer/songwriter Teddy Swims releases his debut Unlearning EP today via Warner Records.

To celebrate the EP’s arrival, he just shared the music video for the opening track “L.I.F.E.” The visual shows yet another side of the vocal dynamo on this standout song, co-written by mega-songwriters Poo Bear (Justin Bieber, Usher) and John Ryan (Maroon 5, John Legend). Speaking to the tranquility of the airy production, he sings alone in the desert as if channeling his surroundings into waves of emotion in every hook. Two women dance against a cool blue sky as his voice rings out with the affirmation, “That’s just life…nobody said it would be easy.”

Teddy paved the way for the EP last month with “Bed On Fire” and the incendiary music video that stars Leila George from TNT’s “Animal Kingdom.” Meanwhile, American Songwriter described the visual as “arresting” and crowned Teddy a “soulful powerhouse.” Unlearning also includes recent fan favorites “Broke” (feat. Thomas Rhett) and “Til I Change Your Mind.” Full tracklisting below.

About the project, Teddy commented, “I wanted to enter into the world with my first body of work knowing the songs were the best they could be. I felt like everything fit together in terms of what I wanted to say. The title perfectly encapsulates 2020! We’ve all had to do a little introspection, break some bad habits, and figure out who we are again. There are some things we took for granted that, thanks to this Pandemic, we had to really open our eyes and do some unlearning!”

This summer, Teddy will support GRAMMY Award-winning country rock leaders Zac Brown Band on The Comeback Tour across North America. He joins the bill on August 5 in Holmdel, NJ at PNC Bank Arts Center and performs on nine dates through August 29 in Cincinnati, OH at Riverbend Music Center.

Teddy recently appeared on A Little Later With Lilly Singh (watch HERE) and delivered his late-night television debut performance with “Bed On Fire” on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert (watch HERE). Teddy started out the year by being named a 2021 “Artist To Watch” by Rolling Stone who praise “A boundaryless approach comes through in Dimsdale’s original songs, which blend elements of hip-hop, R&B, country, and classic soul.” He also made his national television debut on The Kelly Clarkson Show with an unforgettable performance of his first release of the year “My Bad” (watch it HERE).

Listen to Unlearning HERE.

Watch the video HERE.

Tickets are on sale HERE.

DEMPSEY HOPE – PICTURE PERFECT

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DEMPSEY HOPE RELEASES NEW TRACK picture perfect

Seattle-based artist on the rise Dempsey Hope releases his new track picture perfect via RCA Records. picture perfect follows Dempsey’s latest tracks on my mind and autumn which was featured in Billboard’s “10 Cool New Pop Songs To Get You Through The Week” column.

Dempsey says, “picture perfect is about how life is not like the movies, romance is never laid out for you, and it doesn’t ever go perfectly. but with some true effort it can still be picture perfect.”

Last fall, Dempsey released the dempsey hope project. The project was a collection of 10 songs that Dempsey had spent months working on and featured baby blue ft. Olivia O’Brien, as well as fan favorites such as roller rink which was featured in Billboard’s “10 Cool New Pop Songs To Get You Through The Week,” time flies and elephant in the room feat. gnash.

About Dempsey Hope

Dempsey Hope has been a singer and performer since an early age. In 2009, Dempsey began recording his YouTube videos, gaining fans by doing covers and creating content with his childhood friend Kateel. He then got started with a local community-based recording program in South Seattle, releasing his first original song Game Time, and started busking at local festivals and on the streets of Seattle.

In high school, Dempsey focused on sports, and was a member of the Nathan Hale Basketball Team that went undefeated and won the High School National Championship in 2017. He also led his Ultimate Frisbee Team to a Washington State Championship and the national stage. In 2016, Dempsey began to dive back into the world of music, taking a more serious approach to the craft of songwriting and since then has fully dedicated himself to pursuing music. In 2018, Dempsey linked up with Seattle based producer Jake Crocker and they got to work, developing and crafting much of what you hear in Dempsey’s sound today. Together they created tracks like Commitment Issues, 3 Years, When I Wake Up, time flies, elephant in the room feat. gnash and roller rink. He has been called “an unbelievable talent” by Lyrical Lemonade and was featured in the Seattle Times. Leaning heavily on a sound that he calls “nostalgic,” Dempsey crafts poignant melodies with Pop and R&B influences that will make you a fan after just one listen.

picture perfect out now on all platforms

Listen HERE

She Ball x STUNNAMAN

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Cash Money Records and NCREDIBLE is readying the She Ball Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. The music will be inspired by or featured in the forthcoming film She Ball produced by Cash Money Films and NCREDIBLE, arriving on-demand and in theaters Summer 2021.

The first single from the movie, “STUNNAMAN” with Birdman, Roddy Ricch, and Lil Wayne drops today with a cinematic music video. The song will also be immediately serviced to radio. “STUNNAMAN” fuses a jagged beat to a signature melodic flow from Roddy Ricch. Meanwhile, Birdman and Lil Wayne pull up with old-school Like Father, Like Son-style interplay. Three generations of rap shine on this bold and bright banger.

The “STUNNAMAN” video will make its broadcast premiere on MTV and BET on May 21.

“If anything, the soundtrack will be a driving force of She Ball,” said Nick Cannon. “The music is truly the heartbeat of the film. To have my producing partners Birdman and Chris Brown on the album as well is an honor. We’ve got legends and all of the people who are really popping right now on the track-list. It references those soundtracks we all grew up on that meant something from a generational standpoint. When you hear the music or watch the movie, I want you to feel embedded in the culture. I saw Do the Right thing, Love and Basketball, and Above The Rim as a kid. We cherish those as national treasures now. That’s our goal.”

Birdman added, “I said to Nick, if we’re going to do this, we’ve got to do it as big as possible. As important as the movie was, the Soundtrack was just as important. We were able to put together some powerful records and collaborations worthy of this film. It takes everything to the next level.”

The movie and soundtrack represent a union between Nick Cannon who wrote, produced, and directed She Ball and Multi-Platinum icons Bryan ‘Birdman’ Williams & Chris Brown. All three serve as producers and are starring alongside some of the most influential entertainers today including Cedric The Entertainer, DC Young Fly, Evan Ross, and Faizon Love in the movie.

This film is an important community-focused project dealing with race, gentrification, criminal justice and women’s empowerment. The movie tells a story of triumph against all odds as a young female athlete played by Melody Rae Kandil faces trials, tribulations, and triumphs on and off the basketball court.

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Watch the official trailer HERE

Watch the official video HERE

DECLAN J DONOVAN – INTO THE FIRE

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DECLAN J DONOVAN RELEASES NEW SINGLE INTO THE FIRE

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Rising singer-songwriter Declan J Donovan released his new single Into The Fire. The follow-up to the stirring ballad Before You Let Me Go, which came out in March, Into The Fire is an anthemic ballad that combines Donovan’s mesmerizing vocals with epic instrumentation.

With its captivating hook and huge chorus, Into The Fire is another leap forward for Donovan. Speaking about the song, he says: “Into The Fire is a song about fighting to get someone back in your life again and learning to love yourself in order to be there for that other person.”

Donovan’s tales of love and heartbreak and what it’s like to be a young adult in 2021 are connecting on a huge scale. Donovan has been operating on another level since his 2020 track Perfectly Imperfect became a viral hit across Instagram and TikTok. Its body-positivity message forged a big emotional connection with listeners. The song has over 97 million combined views and has racked up 35 million plays on Spotify.

From Harlow in Essex, Donovan’s breakthrough track was Fallen So Young, a song he uploaded to Soundcloud in 2017 that found millions of fans around the globe. Since then, he has continued to refine his songwriting and amassed a diehard fanbase over a series of knockout singles. Into The Fire is another example of an artist who is in the midst of creative success.