Posts made in May 2021

TURBO – HELL ON EARTH

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COUNTRY CROSSOVER ARTIST TURBO RELEASES NEW SINGLE
HELL ON EARTH out now on all platforms

Today, country crossover talent Turbo releases his latest single Hell On Earth, available now via 10K Projects/Homemade Projects. The single acts as a precursor to his debut EP Cocaine and Fireworks, which is set to release this summer.

A truly original and fearless artist, Turbo combines the gritty authenticity of outlaw country with hip-hop’s hard-hitting beats and rhymes and pop’s sticky melodies. Born Nicholas LaMonaca, 10K Projects/Homemade Projects signee grew up on country thanks mainly to his father (a famed guitarist in the international bluegrass scene), but felt drawn toward rap music and obscure electronic genres like hardstyle (a fusion of techno and hardcore).

At the age of 12 he started making his own music, a move heavily inspired by Avicii’s progressive-house classic “LE7ELS.” “Once I heard that song I couldn’t get enough of it,” Turbo recalls. “I was so obsessed, I ended up downloading FL Studio to try to recreate the melody on my own.” Although he instantly discovered a natural talent for production, Turbo put music aside for several years, then started producing again after graduating high school. “On my 18th birthday I bought a laptop and keyboard and set of speakers, and figured I’d have rappers come in and do their thing,” he says. “But after a while I just started winging it, making beats and rapping over them myself.”

As he pushed deeper into his artistry, Turbo began mining inspiration from left-of-center country singers like Colter Wall, a Canadian musician he stumbled across while stocking the shelves at his full-time liquor-store job. “Colter Wall has one of the raspiest, rawest, rudest voices I’d ever heard in my life, and it just completely took me over,” he notes. From there, Turbo tapped into his own country roots and created a full-length project titled Sixth Gear, a 2019 release featuring his breakthrough single “Light Speed.” Soon after YouTube curator Astari shared the song’s video on his channel, “Light Speed” caught the attention of 10K, quickly paving the way for Turbo’s signing to the label, along with Homemade Projects.

Since then, Turbo has embraced even more confidence in his songwriting, thriving in the in-between of diverse genres. With tracks like his stunning debut “Heart Stop” and carefree summer jam “Bo Exotic,” Turbo has proven to be one of the most original and intuitive new artists today. “The more music I make and the better I know myself, the more I’ve realized that the best songs come from me sitting in a room alone and just taking my time—that’s how I come up with something honest and timeless,” he says. “I don’t really follow a particular process. Instead of worrying about any kind of rules, I just do what I want, and go with whatever feels right to me.”

House of Dragon: A Sneak Peek into the Upcoming GOT Spinoff

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Even after eight full seasons of Game of Thrones, fans have hardly had enough of the show. George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” is a long story full of unanswered questions. Anyone who’s read the books will agree that the TV series only scraped the surface. Not to mention, the ending left us with debates and was full of plot holes. It’s likely that they rushed to wrap things up. We are hoping the same will not happen in the upcoming spinoffs.

The GOT team is currently working on about 5 spinoffs. Among them is the much-awaited House of the Dragon, 10,000 Ships, The Tale of Dunk and Egg, Flea Bottom, and 9 Voyage. House of the Dragon is set to follow hot on the heels of GOT’s season 8. Besides some leaked stills from the set, here’s the information we have so far:

The Plot

As the name suggests, House of the Dragon revolves around the Targaryen family and is based on George R. R. Martin’s book, “Fire and Blood.” It tells the story of Westeros 300 years before the events in GOT, when the Targaryens were in power. According to the book’s description, we expect the show to answer questions such as:

What happened during the dance of the dragons (the Targaryen civil war that impacted all of the seven kingdoms)?
Why Valyria was dreaded after the doom?
The life in Westeros when dragons dominated the skies
The worst actions of Meagor the Cruel

Airing Timeline

According to Casey Bloys, HBO’s programming chief, House of the Dragon is likely to start airing in 2022. Although, the precise premiere date is yet to be determined. On April 26, HBO disclosed that production had already begun, sharing a photo of the cast doing a table read in a social-distanced gathering with the caption “fire will reign” on Twitter.

A few other disclosed pictures from the upcoming Game of Thrones prequel suggest that filming is being done in the southwest coast of England. The photos show casts and crew on Holywell Bay Beach, Cornwall. If the only Game of Thrones action you have been getting so far is playing GOT video games or a GOT slots game in online casinos, you’ll be glad to know that we are soon getting hauled back to Westeros and beyond.

Who’s Involved?

Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes are Martin and screenwriter Ryan Condal (Hercules and Colony) as co-creators. Condal will also serve as showrunner in collaboration with Miguel Sapochnik, who directed six episodes of GOT and won Emmy and DGA for “Battle of the Bastards”. He will also be writing the script alongside Sara Lee Hess, who will be working with Vince Gerardis, Martin, and Sapochnik as executive producers.

Also expected to direct are Greeta V. Patel (The Witcher and Meet the Patels), Clare Kilner (director of The Alienist: Angel of Darkness), and Greg Yaitanes (House, Banshee). The Emmy-winning Game of Thrones Composer Ramin Djawadi (Westworld) will score the series.

Cast

From the official casting announcement that we got in October 2020, we know that the following actors will be involved:

Paddy Considine (The Outsider, Peaky Blinders) is set to play King Viserys Targaryen, a warm, kind, and decent man chosen to succeed King Jahaerys Targaryen as ruler of Westeros. However, it is said that “good men do not necessarily make for great kings.”
Matt Smith (Netflix’s Juggernaut as Prince Philip) will be taking the role of Prince Daemon Targaryen, King Viserys’ younger brother and heir to the throne. He is described as an unrivaled warrior and a dragon rider with the true blood of the dragons.
Emma D’Arcy (Truth Seekers, Wanderlust) will be Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen, the King’s first-born child and a pure Valyrian born. She also is a dragon rider. You could say she came into the world with everything – except she wasn’t a man.
Steve Toussaint (Doctor Who, It’s a Sin) takes the role of Lord Corlys Velaryon, aka The Sea Snake. He is the lord of House Velaryon, an ancient Valyrian bloodline much like House Targaryen. Lord Corlys is the most reputable nautical adventurer in the Seven Kingdoms, claims the largest navy in the world, and his house is wealthier than the Lannisters.
Rhys Ifans: (Notting Hill, Enduring Love) will appear as Otto Hightower, The Hand of the King. Ser Otto is a faithful servant to both his king and the realm.
Olivia Cooke (Bates Motel, Vanity Fair) plays the role of Alicent Hightower, the most comely woman in Westeros, who was raised in the Red Keep. She has a keen judgment for politics, as well as a courtly grace.
Fabien Frankel (The Serpent) will be taking the major role of Ser Criston Cole, a Dornish common-born with no claim to lands or titles, but is an honorable swordsman.
Sonoya Mizuno (Ex Machina, Beauty and the Beast) will play Mysaria, who came to Westeros empty-handed and has been sold more than she can remember. Despite all these challenges, she rises to become an unlikely, trusted ally of Prince Daemon Targaryen.

How About the Other Game of Thrones Spinoffs?

The GOT team is currently working on several other spinoffs, although their production and airing timelines are not as clear. Among them is 9 Voyages, which is expected to tell the story of Corlys Velaryo (The Sea Snake) and will be starring Steve Toussant.

10,000 Ships is set 1,000 years before the events in GOT, revolving around Nymeria of House Martel, the founder of Dorne. You may recall Arya’s direwolf in GOT was called Nymeria. So was one of the sand snakes.

Another spinoff, The Tale of Dunk and Egg, tells the story of the iconic knight Ser Duncan the Tall, aka Dunk, (who later becomes king Aegon V Targaryen) and his squire Egg. It is based on Martin’s novel, “Tales of Dunk and Egg,” and is set only 90 years before the events of GOT.

Flea Bottom is another prequel reportedly under development. It is set in Flea Bottom, the slum of King’s Landing. This is where the poorest residents in the Capital of Westeros live. Davos Seaworth and Gendry are some of the GOT characters who started their lives here.

Conclusion

One thing is for sure–Game of Thrones has grown in our hearts to become a culture, touching aspects of life we never before imagined. For all dragon lovers out there, we can’t wait to get immersed in the heroics, politics, cunning, and plot twists involved in Martin’s stories of the Seven Kingdoms. We hope House of the Dragon will fill the air with the same hype as GOT.

H3000 – Running

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“Running” is the second track to be released from H3000. It follows “July Heat,” which Billboard named as one of the best new dance tracks, noting, “Together [Luke Steele and Jarrad Rogers] conjure the futuristic vibes of the year 3000, with their first single “July Heat” giving an optimistic vision of the far-off future. The vocals are pitched up to sound like robots, and the track is a dually spare and brightly glitchy amalgamation that’s altogether sleek as the chrome on your hovercraft.” It’s an interesting electronic track that is simultaneously catchy but also beautifully surreal in it’s instrumentals.

The two artists met in Steele’s adopted hometown of Los Angeles. Steele recalls, “It was the start of summer in California, which is always such a great time. We just connected. The band is about the heavens and what will be the issues of the heart in the year 3000.”

That connection in the spirit is present across the entire album, each song a hypnotic synthesis of pop, electronic music, and classic song writing that plays like a world unto itself. Steele channels a vision beyond the screen into breathtaking lyrics and melody. Rogers is a perfect yang to Steele’s yin, adding a grounding physicality to Steele’s unmoored writing. A sublime union in the mold of Bowie and Eno or Tennant and Lowe, there’s something more than the sum of its parts here, an alchemical spark that’s easy to hear but hard to describe.

Whether that’s to the fragility of the human heart, a transformative tragedy or the love of the strange, H3000 comes about from a chance encounter and a musical world yet to be explored. Join “LUKE 18” and “MSTR ROGERS” on this transcendental journey as they take on the year 3000 together.

About H3000

H3000 is a new creative project from world-renowned musicians Luke Steele and Jarrad Rogers. The Australian-born duo merge deep emotional states with advanced technologies to create transcendental works of music and art, unlike anything fans have experienced before. H3000 will see Steele and Rogers transformed into LUKE 18 and MSTR ROGERS, respectively, for a boundary-breaking visual experience. Both Steele and Rogers have enjoyed major critical and commercial success with their past musical projects. Steele is well known from his days as the dynamic front man for the multi-Platinum selling act, Empire Of The Sun, while Rogers has written and produced for chart-topping artists including Charli XCX, Rita Ora, Lana Del Rey and Avicii, to name a few.

Belle Mt. – Famous Son

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London-based alt-pop trio Belle Mt. lock into a heavy groove on their new single “Famous Son,” available HERE. The stirring track—about the perseverance it takes to chase your dreams—follows the band’s debut Warner Records EP, The Water, released last year. The band recently filmed a stunning live version of the track in London during lockdown. “Famous Son” features Matt Belmont on vocals & acoustic guitars, Chris Burgess on drums, Ben Worsley on electric guitars and Jamie Sierota on bass & keys.

On May 1, Belle Mt. will perform “live” in a unique 3D experience followed with an exclusive fan Meet & Greet via Microsoft’s Altspace VR brought to you by VadVim. This global event is free and does not require a VR Headset. The AltspaceVR platform supports 2D mode, which means you can see the event using a PC or MAC.

The driving instrumental of “Famous Son” offers a colorful canvas for singer/songwriter/guitarist Matt Belmont’s vivid meditation, recalling the advice he got as a teenager who had just started his first band. The song was also inspired by another bit of wisdom from his dad: the idea that “music’s great artists didn’t choose to be great—they just didn’t know how to do or be anything else.”

The younger Belmont returns to these sentiments when he feels lost walking the songwriter’s path. His father’s words pushed him to keep his head down, focusing on his dream of being a great musician while working odd jobs. “Famous Son” captures the collision of luck and hard work that created the breakthrough allowing Belmont to bust out of his comfort zone.

“‘Famous Son’ comes from that moment in the artist’s journey when you choose to really bet on yourself, to chase the dream in spite of all the risks and unpredictability,” Belmont says. “Its high energy is rooted in the constant back and forth between self-belief and imposter syndrome, and in that coiled, base-level anxiety that some of us feel so consistently we forget it’s even there. I don’t know how to do anything else or be anything else, so here goes.”

“Famous Son” finds Belle Mt. expanding on a sound they’ve been refining since 2017, when the trio released an acoustic version of the single “Hollow” on their independent debut Volume I EP. In the years since, the track took on a life of its own, earning critical acclaim, spots on beloved playlists like Spotify’s “New Music Friday,” and tens of millions of streams. In 2020, Belle Mt. signed with Warner Records and released a new version of “Hollow,” which Belmont described as an exploration of “love, loss, rebirth, and everything in between”—an apt summary of Belle Mt.’s overall ambitions.

About Belle Mt.

As Matt Belmont explains, Belle Mt. (pronounced bell-mont) is “an ever-evolving concept that can take on many forms.” At times, it can manifest as Belmont performing his most intimate songs solo, accompanied by sparse guitar or keys. In its current incarnation, Belle Mt. mostly performs as a trio, with a poignant alt-pop sound filled out by long-term collaborators Chris Burgess on drums/percussion and Ben Worsley on guitar, bass, and backing vocals. The band first emerged in late 2017 with their debut EP Volume I, captivating audiences worldwide with Matt Belmont’s emotive songwriting and heartfelt vocals. While their first single “Hollow (Acoustic)” claimed real estate on coveted playlists such as Spotify’s “New Music Friday,” the group performed at SXSW, British Summertime in Hyde Park, Eurosonic, and on the road with KALEO. After amassing multiple millions of streams globally, Belle Mt. inked a contract with Warner Records in 2020. More music to follow soon.

6 Inspiring Gifts for Your Daughter’s Graduation

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Graduating is a very important milestone in a person’s life. Whether your daughter is graduating from high school or college, it signifies growth and is the start of the next journey in her life. As a result, it should be celebrated – it means your daughter is one step closer to reaching her full potential.

In order to show your pride and appreciation, it is customary to get someone a gift when they graduate. This could be anything, which can often make the decision of what to choose a difficult one. With that in mind, here are six inspiring and appropriate gifts to give your daughter for her graduation.

Flowers

Flowers are a graduation gift that your daughter is sure to love and appreciate. Depending on their type and color, they can have a variety of meanings: love, pride and even appreciation. These flowers can be displayed in your daughter’s bedroom or apartment, and will not only improve how the space looks, but also fill it with a wonderful scent.

There are many reasons why a flower bouquet is a perfect gift. They are very versatile, timeless, affordable and convenient for everyone involved. Also, in addition to being great for graduations, flowers are great for birthdays, anniversaries, Mother’s Day and various other holidays.

A Piece of Jewelry

Jewelry is another classic graduation gift. Giving your daughter a new necklace, ring, bracelet or pair of earrings is a lovely option to consider. You could even engrave the jewelry with a special message or quote. This could inspire them, make them happy, remind them of home or tell them anything you’d like.

The right piece can also help your daughter keep up with the latest jewelry trends, as well. If you want to show your pride in your daughter, and help her look and feel her best, some new jewelry can do just that. Every time she wears it, she will think of you and the support you gave her throughout her journey in school.

A Subscription Box

A subscription box is another good choice. These have taken off in recent years and there are dozens of different ones your daughter is sure to love. These boxes ship products to your daughter each and every month, right to her door. You can choose from beauty boxes, snack boxes, wine and spirits boxes, or relaxation boxes. If she has an interest, there is probably a subscription box for it.

A unique box might also help her discover a new hobby, work on her skills in the kitchen, learn more about a new topic or even add to a hobby or collection she already has. Many of the items in these boxes can be customized, making them completely exclusive to the recipient.

A Book

If your daughter is an avid reader, a thoughtful book can be a great gift. This could be an inspiring book about her future and how to best reach her potential, or even a book all about entertaining her to make her laugh. The choice is yours and will depend on what she likes.

If she’s always on the go and cannot always bring a bulky book or multiple books with her, consider getting her an e-reader. These can store plenty of books on them, and are very convenient to take wherever she goes.

New Technology

People love technology and most of us rely on it daily. If your daughter is a techie, a new type of tech she doesn’t have is a great gift idea. Wireless earbuds, a new laptop, or a smart speaker are just some of the many options out there. If you are not sure what she would like, consider getting a gift card to an online tech store, so she can choose exactly what she wants.

Household Goods or Appliances

If your daughter has her own place, is going to college soon or is moving out, some household goods or appliances are other great gifts to consider. This could be a fancy blender, a new coffee maker, a good food processor or anything in between. While they might not be the most exciting, they are very useful and will be much appreciated in the long run.

In addition to being incredibly useful and saving her some money, these can help inspire your daughter to think about her future. Once she moves out and finds her own place, she will think of you every time she uses the item, and will appreciate all you had to do to support her growth over the years.

Get a Graduation Gift She Is Sure To Appreciate

A graduation is a big deal in a person’s life and should be celebrated. Any of these six ideas are great ideas to give your daughter to celebrate her graduation and all the hard work she put in to reach her goal.

Regal Cinemas’ Reopen with New Locations in L.A.

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As Covid regulations are decreasing and more and more people are getting vaccinated, regulations are starting to decrease and people are starting to go outside again, including to the local movie theatres. Regal Cinemas is reopening, and is also proud to announce 3 additional locations will open in the Los Angeles area, with one in Camarillo, one in Irvine, and one in Hemet. These theatres will open Friday, May 21.

Lionsgate’s Spiral, a horror movie and Saw spinoff, will headline the new movies including Angelina Jolie and Nicholas Hoult’s new thriller: Those Who Wish Me Dead and Guy Ritchie’s Wrath of Man along with a full slate of additional titles. Future releases opening in the coming weeks include A Quiet Place Part II, Cruella and F9.

Reopening plans include a wide range of health and safety measures that adhere to the CinemaSafe protocol and guidelines, which have been created by the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) in order to help prevent Covid outbreaks in theatres.

About Regal

Regal, a subsidiary of the Cineworld Group, operates one of the largest and most geographically diverse theatre circuits in the United States, consisting of 6,979 screens in 526 theatres in 42 states along with the District of Columbia and Guam as of February 28, 2021. The size, reach and quality of the company’s theatre circuit provides its patrons with a convenient and enjoyable moviegoing experience. They are committed to being “The Best Place to Watch a Movie!” Additional information is available on Regal’s website, which can be found HERE.

GRAND OPENING DELAYED at REGAL NORTH HOLLYWOOD & 4DX

WHAT: Due to unforeseen circumstances, we regret to inform you that the official opening scheduled for today, Friday, May 21, of the Regal North Hollywood has been postponed. We look forward to officially opening the doors in the coming days and will follow up accordingly when we have the official date.

WHERE: Regal North Hollywood & 4DX (3251 20th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132)

Livintage Apparel’s Pandemic-Inspired Collection

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BIPOC fashion designer, Brandon Hunt, release pandemic-inspired collection that will be sure to keep you cozy and stylish for any situation! Visit his brand Livintage Apparel via their website, Instagram and Facebook for more information and to make a purchase!

Our lives will never be the same again. We can tell generations to come that we lived through a worldwide pandemic. And if you’re reading this now, you are one of those survivors. Now that’s a reason to start to Liv a little more! Never in my life would I have imagined living through a global pandemic. It has not only shook up the whole world but it has also affected the world of fashion in a major way.

Fashion has started to go digital due to COVID. Now that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. For me, I was able to really connect with my clients on a personal level through zoom calls or FaceTime. I grew better bonds with clients during the pandemic. I even created new components to my business that included more virtual interactions. Wardrobe stylists are very hands on.

The 6 foot social distancing rule just doesn’t apply to us. If we aren’t adjusting a model’s clothes during a shoot, we are more than likely doing the creative direction. There’s even times where we have to physically shop for a client in the store. Another hands on job stylists usually have are fittings prior to the fashion show and making adjustments to clothing if needed. The pandemic changed all of my normal day to day interactions. I did not take this as anything negative. I brainstormed for hours coming up with ideas on how I could pivot and still be successful during COVID. I decided I would take full advantage of one of many styling services of mine which is personal shopping. This is where I personal shop for clients. It’s as simple as getting their sizes in clothing and shoes along with a budget for clothing. I do FaceTimes and send photos of outfit ideas until we build several complete looks within their budget. This service could be for a specific event, photo shoot, vacation, or even as a gift to someone who deserves to add some new pieces to their wardrobe. Stylists take note because this was a major contribution to my success during the pandemic.

The pandemic trapped people in their homes for months. We may not have been able to get out like normal and be social, but we were on our phones. Everyone was plugged in. This was the perfect time to interact with followers. During this time I did live interviews, tv segments, YouTube’s, podcasts and more. I even had sales online to drive more traffic to my website. I also sent out email alerts updating people on when the collection would drop. I wanted to give my viewers an opportunity to get to know me better. I used the quarantine to connect with my followers. I did polls to see exactly what they liked. I took time responding to as many people as I could. I reached out to hundreds of people daily to build my clientele. I was eager to work with new people. Though I got turned down by many, it only made me want to work harder. I used social media to conduct research on clients and learn more about them. Social media was a major tool to use during the pandemic in order to stay afloat in the industry.

The pandemic may not have been such a bad thing after all for the fashion industry. The pandemic actually opened up so many opportunities for people. This was a great time to get in your zone and focus on whatever it is that you love doing and do it. For me, that was creating. Others ventured out and started businesses, learned new trades, and even invested in things they never thought they’d invest in. I took my time to build a men’s and women’s collection I knew would be comfortable, edgy, and classic considering no one was getting dressed up to leave the house. I also included glasses as an accessory because as a stylist, one of the most important things to me is accessorizing. You can build looks based off of the most basic outfits by adding the perfect accessories.

Anytime you’re going to be front and center, you’d better make sure you’re looking your best. So I understand how difficult it is to get dressed for that zoom meeting or virtual date. You don’t want to overdo it and you don’t want to under dress either. These decisions could make or break you but here are some tips that should help ease the stress of choosing that next outfit for your zoom meeting or virtual date.

Your clothes do speak you know. Have you ever gotten dressed and someone asked you what you’re getting all dressed up for? Whether it was for that interview or that hot date, clothes say a lot about who you are and how you carry yourself; so it may be important to put a little more effort into your next outfit choice whether that’s booking a personal stylist or being a fashionista yourself.

Styles differ when it comes to a virtual date or a zoom meeting. You want to be more conservative when it comes to meetings. For males, I’d really stay away from t-shirts but if you must wear one, make sure it’s plain so that people don’t focus on the words or message. For women, I’d suggest not wearing anything that’s too revealing on the top. No lace, no see through, or spaghetti straps. Follow Livintage Apparel via their website, Instagram and Facebook.

Pieces I would suggest for men and women are button down shirts or polos for virtual meetings. When it comes to virtual dates, you can get a little more creative. Do focus on being yourself and not wearing anything that is out of your comfort zone because you want to be confident on camera. For video purposes, I’d suggest not wearing anything too bright or too much bling as it can be distracting. Lastly and possibly most importantly, please please please don’t get caught not wearing any pants. We all know how easy it is to roll out of bed and throw on a work shirt paired with your favorite pj bottoms but that’s a big no no. Don’t be that person that stands up while on video and forgets they aren’t fully dressed. Fashion is forever changing and has been for ages. No matter what’s thrown our way, we must be able to learn from it and become better. Now that the pandemic is over, let the fun begin. It’s time to pull out your best clothes because it’s time to go outside!Follow Brandon Hunt, the CEO and designer at Livintage Apparel, at his Instagram!

Fire in Little Africa Announces Tracklist

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FIRE IN LITTLE AFRICA ALBUM ART & TRACK LIST REVEALED + CHARLIE WILSON ANNOUNCED AS GUEST FEATURE, SET FOR MAY 28 RELEASE VIA MOTOWN RECORDS/BLACK FORUM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE BOB DYLAN CENTER AND WOODY GUTHRIE CENTER, Album Brings Fresh And Important Perspective To The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre And Celebrates The City’s Vibrant Hip Hop Scene

Visit the official Fire in Little Africa website here!

Fire in Little Africa, a groundbreaking album of original material, written and recorded by a collective of Oklahoma hip hop artists to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, will be released on May 28 by Motown Records/Black Forum in partnership with Tulsa’s Bob Dylan Center and Woody Guthrie Center.

The 21-track collection gets to the truth of what happened on May 31 and June 1, 1921 when a white mob descended on the streets of Greenwood, then a prosperous Tulsa neighborhood known as Black Wall Street, and burned down the business district, destroying roughly 1,500 homes, killing hundreds and leaving thousands of Black Tulsans homeless. For years, this historic, albeit dire, chapter was left out of classrooms and textbooks as the city attempted to erase this part of its past. The artists heard on Fire in Little Africa get to the truth through urgent songs, recalling stories told and stories lived in hope to usher in a new era for Tulsa as they help the community process this generational trauma through music.

‘Fire in Little Africa’ is a powerful and timely project that provides a platform and outlet for the incredibly talented and thriving music community of Tulsa, Oklahoma, said Motown Records Chairman & CEO Ethiopia Habtemariam. Carrying the legacy of the Black Wall Street community, Fire in Little Africa is a body of work filled with purpose and prolific storytelling. I am honored and feel privileged to have Motown Records/Black Forum partner with Dr. View, the Bob Dylan Center and Guthrie Center to release this impactful hip-hop album.

Track List:

Elevator
City of Dreams
Shining
Descendants
Regardless
Party Plane (feat. Charlie Wilson)
Been Through It All
Drowning
Our World
Top Down
Creme of the Crop
Thug Town Skit
Watchu On
P.O.D.
Reparations
P.O.D. Pt. II
Raw Cocaine
The Rain
North Tulsa Got Something to Say
Brunch at the Brady
Young & Free

I am honored to be a part of the ‘Fire In Little Africa’ album featuring the musical contributions of young talented local artists from my hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma. This tragedy has been suppressed for generations. Charlie Wilson continues, Growing up in Tulsa we named our band, The GAP Band, after Greenwood, Archer and Pine Streets, the wealthiest and most successful African American community in the United States in the early 20th century. I am proud to see a new generation of talented Tulsans continue to tell the story of our ancestors. They are opening the door for many generations to come by shedding light not only on the race massacre but the excellence of the Black Wall Street and Greenwood community.

Stevie Dr. View Johnson, PhD, Manager, Education & Diversity Outreach at the Woody Guthrie Center | Bob Dylan Center and the album’s executive producer added, ‘Fire in Little Africa’ has evolved into a communal hip hop movement and we’re excited that we get to share the flavor, history and legacy of Black Wall Street with the world, in collaboration with the amazing leadership of the Motown/Black Forum family. We’re grateful for Ethiopia’s foresight in providing us an opportunity to share our important stories with the world. There are Black Wall Streets across the diaspora and we unequivocally know that Fire in Little Africa will inspire many people. In the words of Steph Simon, ‘everything is us.’

In this feature, Rolling Stone noted, ‘Fire in Little Africa’ is poised to teach the world about that long-suppressed history, from locals who grew up in a community that still lives with the aftermath of the massacre. Just as important, the artists involved in the project also hope it serves as a launching-pad moment for Tulsa’s hip-hop scene, which has long flown under the national radar.

The album was recorded in Greenwood over a five-day period in March 2020. Studios were set up at the Greenwood Cultural Center and other locations, including the former home of 1921 massacre mastermind/KKK leader Tate Brady. The house is now owned by former NFL first-round draft pick and Tulsa native Felix Jones. The Tulsa World was on hand to speak with the artists involved in the historic sessions. Read the article here and check out the accompanying video here.

Fireside with Dr. View is a weekly podcast featuring Dr. View in conversation with thought leaders in activism, academia and culture, centered on the movement behind the Fire in Little Africa music. Listen to Fireside with Dr. View here. Hosts Ali Shaw and Doc Free sit down with Fire in Little Africa artists, Tulsa community leaders and national voices for conversations on music and culture in the Fire in Little Africa podcast, which can be found here.

Located in the Tulsa Arts District, the Woody Guthrie Center opened in 2013. The Bob Dylan Center is expected to open on the same block within the next year. Both are projects of the George Kaiser Family Foundation, the primary funder for Fire in Little Africa. The album is chronicled in a documentary film, which will be released later this year.

Fire in Little Africa marks the first new material released by Black Forum since the label’s relaunch earlier this year. Black Forum originally debuted in 1970 with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Why I Oppose The War In Vietnam, which won a GRAMMY Award for Best Spoken Word Album. The label reissued Dr. King’s influential speech earlier this year.

Make sure to follow Fire in Little Africa via their YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.

Galantis × David Guetta × Little Mix

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GALANTIS, DAVID GUETTA & LITTLE MIX RELEASE “HEARTBREAK ANTHEM”

EXPLOSIVE COLLABORATIVE SINGLE & MUSIC VIDEO OUT NOW VIA BIG BEAT RECORDS

WATCH “HEARTBREAK ANTHEM” VIDEO

STREAM “HEARTBREAK ANTHEM”

Internationally-acclaimed collaborative project Galantis, superstar DJ/producer David Guetta & global pop superstars Little Mix have joined forces for new single “Heartbreak Anthem” – available now via Big Beat Records. The explosive collaboration arrives alongside a striking music video directed by Samuel Douek, who most recently teamed up with Little Mix for their buzzworthy “Confetti” visual last month. Contrary to its title, “Heartbreak Anthem” proves a declaration of resilience – fusing the jaunty productions of the powerhouse producers with the impeccable harmonies of the world’s biggest girl band.

“We’ve been working on ‘Heartbreak Anthem’ for over a year now! It started with just the chord progression at a studio in London right before the pandemic. As many collaborations have gone in these times, it was a remote work in progress for months, with stems sent back and forth from London to Los Angeles to Stockholm to Paris. We’d been talking with David about working together for a long time, and having Little Mix and their unique, strong vocals has made this one really special. Feels great to finally get this out into the world!” – Christian Karlsson (Galantis).

ABOUT GALANTIS:

Setting a new standard for songwriting in dance music, Galantis is a collaborative project led by Christian Karlsson (aka Bloodshy, one-third of Miike Snow). Galantis’ debut album Pharmacy reached No. 1 on the Billboard Dance album chart on the strength of RIAA gold certified single “Peanut Butter Jelly” and 2x platinum certified smash “Runaway (U & I)” – the latter of which earned GRAMMY nominations for “Best Dance Recording” and “Best Remixed Recording” – while 2017’s sophomore album The Aviary (featuring platinum certified single “No Money”) saw a top 10 debut in 23 countries. Most recently, the third Galantis album Church featured the chart-topping single “Faith” with country music icon Dolly Parton featuring Mr. Probz, which saw a #1 debut on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Chart before quickly reaching #1 on the Dance/Mix Show Airplay Chart where it remained for 5 weeks. Galantis has received over 4 billion cumulative worldwide streams, and over 1.5 billion video views to date.

The story of Galantis started back in 2009. Working as Bloodshy, Karlsson’s songwriting collaborations have included Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Katy Perry and Britney Spears (who’s “Toxic” earned a GRAMMY for “Best Dance Recording”). This collaborative nature led to the birth of the Galantis project which had its live debut at 2014’s Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and has continued on years later as one of dance music’s most dynamic and in-demand live performers.

ABOUT DAVID GUETTA:

There are artists and entertainers who achieve stardom and popularity, but few have the influence and endurance to redraw borders between genres and reshape the industry’s dynamics. In 2009, “When Love Takes Over,” the first single from his breakthrough album One Love hit #1 in the UK and the Guetta-produced Black Eyed Peas song “I Gotta Feeling” became a worldwide hit, topping the charts in 17 countries. Over the decade since, Guetta’s success has been off the charts. Globally, he’s racked up over 50 million record sales, whereas his total number of streams is over 10 billion. He has received numerous Platinum and Gold certifications, was named EDM Power Player by Billboard and won two GRAMMY Awards out of six nominations. Besides his hard-won DJ skills, he is prolific in the studio, working with superstar artists like Madonna, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Snoop Dogg, Martin Garrix, Usher, Sia, John Legend, Nicki Minaj, Sean Paul, Kelly Rowland, Avicii, Ne-Yo, Akon and more. His seventh studio album titled 7, included huge electronic pop tracks like “2U” with Justin Bieber, “Flames” with Sia, “Don’t Leave Me Alone” with Anne-Marie, “Goodbye” with Jason Derulo, Nicki Minaj and Willy William and “Say My Name” with J Balvin and Bebe Rexha plus a second disc of underground dance tracks, recorded under Guetta’s Jack Back alias. With his wide-reaching and game-changing approach, he is more than just a DJ and producer: he’s made dance music reach the mainstream, fused urban, electronic and pop music into new popular genres, and managed to stay on top of the game for decades.

ABOUT LITTLE MIX:

With over 60 million records sold, 10 billion global streams, over 5 billion YouTube views, 5 platinum albums, 5 UK number 1 singles, and over 2 million tickets sold Little Mix are officially the world’s biggest girl band. Since forming 10 years ago Little Mix have been an unstoppable force in British pop music. The recent album Confetti gave them their 6th top 5 album and included the number 1 single “Sweet Melody” which has just reached over 200 million streams worldwide. VEVO crowned them the Most Watched UK Act Of 2020 and the UK charts recently classed them as the Best-Selling Girl Group in UK History based on track sales. 2021 saw Little Mix make BRIT Award history as the first girl band ever to win Best British Group in its 43-year history.

5 Steps to Become a Fashion Designer

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Are you a creative person who loves clothes, bags, shoes and the changing trends that each season brings when it comes to new designs? If so, why not choose a career that allows you to express your individuality and explore your passion at the same time? Sound exciting? A career in fashion design might just be your calling. Let’s run through some of the essential steps you’ll need to take to make it in the ever-evolving world of fashion.

Move to a Major City

If you live in a small town with zero opportunities to get valuable work experience, it’s time to consider moving to a major city. Yes, rent is expensive and you may need to take out personal loans from a private lender to cover the first few months of rent and living costs but it will be so worth it. Before moving, reach out to fashion outlets and well-known clothing manufacturers to see if there are any work experience opportunities available. You’ll learn so much from observing operations in a professional setting and you’ll get to work with all kinds of different materials and styles. This experience will prove invaluable when it comes to branching out on your own.

Be Prepared Early On

Listen up high school students! The fact you’re even thinking about becoming a fashion designer at this young age is proof that this career path is for you. Start your prep early by signing up for drawing, art and design classes. A lot of fashion design programs require students to have artistic talent so learn early and your future self with certainly thank you for it.

Get a Degree

You need to take this point seriously if you want to make noise in this competitive industry. Getting a degree in fashion design will teach you everything you need to know when it comes to creating a sketch and bringing that sketch to life. You’ll learn about the properties of different fabrics and you’ll get familiar with essential skills such as stitching, pattern making and draping.

Create a Portfolio

All fashion designers create a portfolio early on in their careers. It’s what you’ll give to prospective fashion schools and employers so it’s got to showcase your best work. Treat each project in that portfolio like it was a major job for a real-world fashion designer and don’t cut corners when it comes to sketching and displaying your strong points. Be sure that the finished folder also demonstrates how good your communication skills are.

Network

Yes, it’s time to mingle! Get involved in fashion shows and enter as many design competitions as you possibly can. Talk to people at these events and don’t be shy in showing off your skills and sharing your ambitions for the future. Sign up to fashion blogs and interact with like-minded people on social media and forums. Check for industry-related networking events in your local area and show up with a smile and a willingness to get involved. If there’s not much happening in your local town/city in terms of fashion shows and competitions, why not make a name for yourself locally and organize your own events? Doing so is a great way to demonstrate drive and tenacity, both of which are traits you’re your future employers will appreciate.