Posts made in May 2021

Hotel at Night via Mina Tocalini for use by 360 Magazine

Soneva Fushi Resort Announces Summer 2021 Programming

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Soneva has announced its Summer 2021 programming at the award-winning Soneva Fushi in the Maldives, featuring one-of-a-kind experiences, exceptional cuisine with Michelin-starred chefs, and acclaimed visiting experts through the ongoing Soneva Stars calendar. Americans visiting the Maldives need to show negative results of a Covid test taken within 96 hours of departure. Soneva has developed an unprecedented program of testing visitors on arrival, and every five days during their stay, to ensure a Covid-free vacation. Soneva has also developed a unique and eco-friendly process to eliminate 90% of mosquitos at Soneva Fushi.

This summer, diners can enjoy Michelin-starred cuisine from a line-up of acclaimed guest chefs at Soneva Fushi over the summer months, including Chef Stéphanie Le Quellec from the 2-Michelin-starred La Scene in Paris, Chef Heiko Nieder from the Dolder Grand’s 2-Michelin-starred The Restaurant, and Chef Paco Morales, the 2-Michelin-starred chef at the forefront of Andalusian cuisine.

Other experts in residence include glass artists Cheyenne Malcolm and Ben Sharp, who will be in residence at Soneva Art & Glass, the Maldives’ only hot glass studio, until August 26. In the realm of wellness, Tathata Kobayashi, a renowned Tai Chi Chuan teacher, will be sharing his extensive knowledge from August 20-September 10.

Those who want to reconnect with nature can join one of Soneva‘s new “Conscious Experiences.” Experiences include a journey around the resort’s organic gardens and waste-to-wealth recycling center, as well as learning about sustainable hook-and-line fishing with a family of local fishermen. Guests can also swim with majestic Manta Rays in the nearby Hanifaru Bay, home to one of the world’s largest manta populations.

Younger guests will be entertained with enriching summer camps for children and teens, and mentoring activities from Oppidan Education. Children can take part in treasure hunts, get active in a mini-Olympics, learn how to identify turtles, sail to the sandbank and much more. Teens are invited to learn about conservation and the environment, take a trip to a local island, discover how to cook tasty Maldivian snacks, and end their stay with a disco at The Den.

The new Soneva Academy enables older children to learn during their summer stay. The modular courses take children and teens aged 12+ from ‘junior’ to ‘expert’, and cover a range of fascinating topics, including the “Night Skies,” “Zero Waste and Plastic Pollution,” “Marine Life of the Maldives,” “Mosquitoes and Disease,” and “The Adventure of the Corbin,” a quest across the seas in the wake of an ancient galleon.

About Soneva

Soneva is a pioneering family of hospitality properties, offering holistic encounters in luxurious and inspiring environments – from world class resorts to outstanding natural locations.  Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani and Soneva in Aqua in the Maldives and Soneva Kiri in Thailand rebuke the traditional concept of luxury and instead promise the luxury of time, purity and solitude. Every day, guests are encouraged to discover sandy feet, inspired minds and full hearts. Combining luxury with a conscientious approach to sustainability and the environment, and proactively changing the nature of hospitality, it delivers intuitive service and meaningful experiences to the guests.

Queen artwork courtesy Sharrin Summers of Hollywood Records for use by 360 Magazine

The Queen the Greatest YouTube Series

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Queen The Greatest: a celebration of 50 of the greatest moments from the Queen story so far. A 50-week YouTube series celebrating key moments in Queen’s history reminding us why Queen and their music continue to be loved across the world. Episode 9: Queen: 1976 Somebody To Love – Freddie’s Greatest Hit? Watch HERE Queen The Greatest Watch Episodes 1-8 HERE

Was it better than Bohemian Rhapsody? The man himself thinks it might be… After the incredible worldwide success of A Night At The Opera and Bohemian Rhapsody,  all eyes were on Queen to see what they would do next. For Freddie Mercury inspiration came from one of the world’s finest singers and ended up with him, Brian and Roger becoming a Gospel choir. Queen The Greatest’s ninth episode celebrates what is undoubtedly one of Queen’s greatest classic hits, the gospel inspired masterpiece, Somebody To Love.

Having set such a high benchmark with their A Night At The Opera album, all eyes were on Queen to see what they would come up with next. As ever, the band refused to stand still and were intent on exploring new musical paths. For Somebody To Love Freddie found inspiration in one the world’s finest singers to create this Queen classic.

Brian May: Freddie wanted to be Aretha Franklin, you have to bear this in mind, and that explains everything. He loved Aretha. And, this was his Gospel epic. It kind of followed in the steps of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ in the sense that we were building up these multiple vocal parts, but this time we were being a Gospel choir, instead of being an English choir.

Freddie Mercury: And there’s me going on about Aretha Franklin, sort of made them go a bit mad, I just wanted to write something about that kind of thing. I was sort of incentivized by the gospel approach that she had on her albums, the earlier albums.

Brian May: Freddie came in very well prepared with a lot of vocal parts and we just worked our way through it. There was a very good feeling. I always remember thinking, yeah, this is going to be something great.

For many Bohemian Rhapsody was the greatest song Freddie ever wrote, but according to the man himself, he didn’t necessarily agree. 

Freddie Mercury: People will, obviously, no matter how hard you try, will think in terms of your past hits. I really thought, Ok, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is a big hit, but as far as my writing ability is concerned, I think I can write better. And I just looked at it from that point of view. For my estimation, I think a song like ‘Somebody To Love’, from the writing aspect, (is) a better song. 

Somebody To Love  just narrowly missed out on the top spot in the UK charts, peaking at number 2. But the song quickly became a powerhouse on stage, as witnessed by the band’s performance at the Milton Keynes Bowl in 1982 featured ;in this episode.

Ten years later, at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, the song had its place firmly cemented in Queen history thanks to the unforgettable performance by Brian, Roger, John, the London Gospel Choir and, of course, George Michael. n the U.S., Somebody To Love has been certified double Platinum by the RIAA.

The song’s subsequent inclusion on the Five Live EP featuring performances from the Tribute Concert by Queen, George Michael and Lisa Stansfield saw it finally top the UK charts in 1993.

Next will see the release of Queen 1976: Hyde Park – Picnic by the Serpentine. Keep up to date with the Queen the Greatest YouTube series here!

Graph via Sophos for Atlas VPN for use by 360 Magazine

India, Austria, and US Most Hit with Ransomware

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Ransomware attacks are one of the leading cyber threats that organizations have to face.

According to the data presented by the Atlas VPN team, organizations in India, Austria, and the United States are among the most hit with ransomware attacks. To compare, more than 50% of companies in the mentioned countries experienced such attacks in the past year, while the global average is 37%.

Out of 300 interviewees from India, 68% suffered from a ransomware attack. At the same time, 57 out of 100 respondents from Austria experienced a ransomware attack in the last year. Next up, in the United States, 51% of participants, out of 500 questioned, reported that they were hit with a ransomware attack.

Retail and Education Sectors Suffer the Most Ransomware Attacks

Some organizations in specific sectors are more susceptible to hacker attacks due to their lower security levels or valuable data. However, cybercriminals do not shy away from attacking even the biggest companies or government administrations.

Out of 435 respondents in the retail industry, 44% were hit with a ransomware attack last year. Hackers strike retailers when it could hurt them the most, for example, on Black Friday or Christmas seasons.

Retailers share first place with education organizations—out of 499 education interviewees 44% experienced such malicious attacks. Cybercriminals usually deploy ransomware attacks at the start of a school year to cause maximum disruption.

The business and professional services industry suffered the third most ransomware attacks, with a total of 42% out of 361 respondents stating they experienced a ransomware attack in the past year. Companies in this industry are usually smaller with less staff, meaning they might not have a dedicated person to ensure security. Out of 117 participants in the Central government and non-departmental public body (NDPB) sector, 40% reported being attacked with ransomware in the last year.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity writer and researcher at Atlas VPN Anton Petrov shares his advice on how to protect your organization against ransomware attacks.

“Prepare a plan in case you… get hacked. Always have a backup of your data so you don’t have to pay a ransom. Investing in cybersecurity will cost you less than having to deal with the aftermath of a ransomware attack.”

Like with everything else, there’s a way to protect your data in order to make sure hackers don’t get to it and cause serious financial damage.

Photo courtesy of ELEVATE for use by 360 Magazine

Hot Rod Announces Power Tour 2021

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MOTORTREND ANNOUNCES REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR THE 2021 HOT ROD POWER TOUR, The nation’s largest & most recognized traveling car show returns August 23-27, 5,000+ total performance cars will roll through the Midwest, Registration and further event details available here!

Registration is now open for Motortrend’s legendary annual event, Hot Rod Power Tour Presented by HP Tuners and Driven by Continental Tire. Celebrating 27 years in 2021, the world’s largest traveling car show will once again roll through the heartland of hot rod culture as it returns to five cities in the Midwest beginning Monday, Aug. 23 through Friday, Aug. 27, 2021. For registration and event details, visit their website.

Hot Rod Power Tour is widely considered to be the finest high-end hot rod–based automotive tour in the world, bringing together more than 5,000 vehicles. Classic cars, hot rods and trucks travel city to city while performance car lovers, Hot Rod editors and photographers follow alongside the tour, cruising through small town America like one big family reunion road trip. Participants can join for one day, two days, or be a Hot Rod Power Tour long hauler and join for all five days.

The Hot Rod Power Tour is back after a year’s hiatus and the staff and I couldn’t be happier, said Hot Rod Editor-in-Chief John McGann. We can’t wait to be part of the world’s largest rolling car show again, thanks to the help and support from our fans, participants, and sponsors.

Hot Rod Power Tour Presented By Hp Tuners And Driven By Continental Tire 2021 Schedule

  • Kickoff / Day 1: Monday, Aug. 23 – Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio

  • Day 2: Tuesday, Aug. 24 – Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Dayton, Ohio
  • Day 3: Wednesday, Aug. 25 – Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis, Indiana
  • Day 4: Thursday, Aug. 26 – World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis, Missouri
  • Day 5: Friday, Aug. 27 – State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois

Attendees are invited to make some power with the HP Tuners Dyno sponsorship and burn some rubber in the HP Tuners Burnout Box at select stops along the tour! Event-goers can stop by the main HP Tuners trailer to meet the team, learn about products, and get a free t-shirt. Staff will also randomly give away swag bags with product during the event to participants wearing HP Tuners merchandise.

There are few things better than joining a lineup of hot rods and muscle cars across a multi-city road trip, said HP Tuners Director of Marketing Eddie Xu. HOT ROD Power Tour is the ultimate celebration of horsepower and all things automotive, and HP Tuners is excited to present this year’s tour and share our latest and greatest products with all the automotive enthusiasts out there!

Registration Information and Spectator Tickets

All vehicles and spectators must pre-register before arriving at the first venue they attend. Spectators can come out and witness the Hot Rod Power Tour spectacle at no gate admission cost, but must register for a free ticket at their website to be guaranteed entry. Spectator parking is located away from the show grounds and parking charges may apply in some locations. 

Participants may register a vehicle for just one day, two days, or for the best value the entire event as a Long Hauler. Vehicle registration is open to any year, make, or model. Registration is now open at their website.

Economic Impact

Hot Rod Power Tour brings significant impact to the economies of each of its tour stops. Hotels, restaurants, and local establishments play host to tour participants, who are relaxed and enjoying the lifestyle of the ultimate hot rodding journey. Hot Rod Power Tour annually attracts participants from around the world who plan for months or even years to make the trip, and they come prepared to make each stop a memorable experience. 

Connect

For more information on the tour, visit their website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Health and Safety Precautions Overview

All stops will adhere to federal, state and local health and safety guidelines related to COVID-19 and follow a plan approved by local health departments.

About Hot Rod

Hot Rod has been the most recognized brand in the world of high-performance cars since the iconic American magazine was founded in 1948. Today, the authoritative Hot Rod media footprint connects with more than 5 million individuals per month. The Hot Rod Network includes HOTROD.com; the two largest events of their kind, Hot Rod Power Tour and Hot Rod Drag Week; plus Roadkill and Hot Rod Garage shows on the MotorTrend App, the world’s only auto-dedicated subscription video-on-demand service.

About HP Tuners

HP Tuners is a company focused on providing industry leading automotive calibration tools for everyone. With comprehensive hardware and software resources designed to address various diagnostic, data logging and calibration needs, HP Tuners brings unmatched products for modern OBD vehicles. The tools offered by HP Tuners give you an endless array of digital adjustments, seamless live logging, vehicle diagnostics and tuning abilities. Whether you are building a dedicated track car, a next level streetcar, or just want more fuel efficiency or better towing for your daily driver, HP Tuners has the tools to get the most out of your vehicle. For more information, visit their website.

About MotorTrend Group

MotorTrend Group is the largest automotive media company in the world, bringing together Discovery’s fast-growing MotorTrend TV and a vast automotive digital, direct-to-consumer, social, and live event portfolio, including MotorTrend, Hot Rod, Roadkill, Automobile, and more than 20 other industry-leading brands. With a monthly audience of 26 million across web, TV, and print, and 110 million social followers, culminating in 1.3 billion monthly impressions across all platforms, the company encompasses television’s #1 network for automotive superfans, a leading automotive YouTube Channel, and the MotorTrend App, the only auto-dedicated subscription video-on-demand service. MotorTrend serves to embrace, entertain, and empower the motoring world.

Airplane Mode Cover Art via Interscope Records

Hayd – Airplane Mode

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Michigan-born singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Hayd, releases his brand-new single: “Airplane Mode.” Written as a letter to his friends, the song is about Hayd’s conflicting emotions as he enters a new chapter of his life. Although he is enthusiastic about his ascending music career and what the future holds, he also realizes his musical commitment means spending less time with his friends and potentially missing out on special moments and new memories. Blending mellow guitar with smooth, high-pitched vocals, “Airplane Mode” is the perfect song for when you’re feeling sad. 

Click HERE to listen.

About Hayd

Every song allows Hayd to pen another page of his story. Much like an author, the Michigan-born singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer crystallizes life’s most important moments with unfiltered candor set to a warm soundtrack of sparse piano and guitar. In order to bring this vision to life, Hayd watched hundreds of hours of YouTube production tutorials and immersed himself in recording as a kid. While enrolled in a local Michigan community college, Hayd continued to write and produce out of his bedroom. Fashioning a vivid and vibrant signature style, he received early support from influential curator 7Clouds and independent label and distributor Proximity. His 2019 debut single, “Vacant Eyes,” broke the million-stream mark followed by fan favorites “Superhero” and “Suffocate”. After snippets went viral, his 2020 single “Changes” has racked up over 24 million streams worldwide and set the stage for more, including a debut album.

Trippie Red illustration by Heather Skovlund for 360 Magazine

Trippie Redd x Playboi Carti Miss The Rage

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Released on May 7th through 10K Projects/ Virgin Music, Trippie Redd and Playboi Carti’s long awaited “Miss The Rage” has debuted at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. With over 38.2M global combined streams and no music video to date, this is the highest charting single debut for both artists. Furthermore, “Miss The Rage” was the #1 most added song at Rhythm radio yesterday, and is currently the third most added song at Urban radio. Lauded by The New York Times, Rolling Stone, FADER, Complex and more, “Miss The Rage” currently occupies the Spotify playlists; Today’s Top Hits, Rap Caviar, Pop Rising, Get Turnt and more. “Miss The Rage” sits at #1 on Soundcloud’s Top 50 US and WW charts and #5 on Rolling Stone’s Top 100 Songs.

One of the most versatile and creatively daring artists in hip-hop today, Trippie Redd makes music that’s both wildly experimental and massively appealing. Since delivering his debut mixtape A Love Letter to You in 2017, the multi-platinum-selling, chart-topping rapper/singer/songwriter has continually defied genre boundaries, embedding his melodic take on rap with frenetic elements of rock-and-roll and heavy metal. And with his penetrating lyrics and nuanced but hard-hitting vocal performance, the 21-year-old Ohio native matches that endless ingenuity with a powerfully raw emotional impact.

A self-professed workaholic who’s now debuted five consecutive projects in the top 5 of the Billboard 200 chart —Trippie got his start as a teenager “living in a basement with roaches recording music,” as he tells it. Born Michael Lamar White IV and raised in Canton, Ohio, he grew up on hip-hop icons like Tupac Shakur, Nas, and Jay-Z, but later became fascinated with the shock-rock of Slipknot and Rob Zombie. As he recalls, the urge to create his own music arose soon after his older brother (an aspiring rapper who went by the name Dirty Redd) died in a car accident when Trippie was 10. (“I took his dream and did it myself,” Trippie says now.) Drawing much of his inspiration from the free-flowing style and inventive lyricism of Lil Wayne, Trippie began recording in his cousin’s basement and later relocated to Atlanta to further hone his skills, quickly landing a record deal with 10K Projects.

Though 2020 brought its fair share of adjustments for the rapper with the arrival of COVID-19, Trippie used his time in quarantine to make some of his boldest career moves yet. He made his Hollywood acting debut in a cameo during an episode of Lil Dicky’s critically acclaimed DAVE. He also dropped his highly anticipated album, Pegasus, on Halloween. The mythical LP, which debuted at #2, included the intoxicating “Excitement” featuring PARTYNEXTDOOR and showed Trippie bridging the generational gap with the legendary Busta Rhymes on “I Got You.” The deluxe version of Pegasus comes in the form of NEON SHARK, a collaboration album with production from Travis Barker, due February 19, 2021.

In just a few short years, rapper Playboi Carti has amassed millions of streams worldwide, with a global appeal that has steadily placed him within the upper echelon of new stars. The Atlanta native first started his career in high school under the name Sir Cartier. Raised on a cross-section of soulful Pop greats like Prince and Michael Jackson mixed with Trap stars like Jeezy and Gucci Mane, Carti found his own voice, securing local buzz with tracks like “YUNGXANHOE” and “Lost.” He graduated high school and was bound for the Bronx, where connecting with the A$AP Mob became fortuitous as he later forged a bond with leader A$AP Rocky and became a de-facto Mob affiliate. A series of viral hits followed—from “Broke Boi” to “Fetti”—as Carti later inked a deal with Interscope Records and dropped his eponymous mixtape in 2017.

The project featured the single “Magnolia,” as its meteoric rise garnered over 600 million cumulative streams with cosigns from Beyoncé and features on series like Atlanta. The following year, Carti dropped his debut album Die Lit, debuting at Number 3 on the Billboard 200, boasting collaborations like Lil Uzi Vert on “Shoota,” “Poke It Out” with Nicki Minaj, “Love Hurts” with Travis Scott and many more. In April of 2020, he returned with “@MEH,” cracking the 80 million mark already in streams. In December 2020, Playboi Carti released his highly anticipated album Whole Lotta Red. The album marked his first #1 album on Billboard’s 200 chart and received 160 Million global streams within its first week. In addition, Whole Lotta Red trended #1 upon its release on Twitter, and tracks from the album held 3 out of the top ten trending spots at YouTube including #1 upon release.  With a constant string of hits, Playboi Carti doesn’t miss.

LISTEN TO “MISS THE RAGE”

 

World Bee Day illustration by Heather Skovlund for 360 Magazine

World Bee Day × Lamborghini

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May 20, World Bee Day: Since 2016 Lamborghini has worked with bees in an environmental biomonitoring project

On the occasion of World Bee Day on May 20, established by the UN in 2017, Automobili Lamborghini underscores its commitment to safeguarding the environment. In 2016 the company launched an environmental biomonitoring project with the installation of an apiary in the Lamborghini Park in Sant’Agata Bolognese. Over the years, the apiary has grown from a total of eight hives to the current twelve, with a population of about 600,000 bees of which 120,000 forage around the territory.

In addition, thanks to the Audi Foundation, from this year the Lamborghini apiary benefits from the presence of a “technological beehive”. Two video cameras, one inside and one outside the hive, make it possible to observe the behavior of the insects close up, providing more detailed data to the studies being conducted.  

From the analyses of the hive matrices (honey, wax and the bees themselves), the company in collaboration with entomological and apicultural experts, can detect a wide range of environmental pollutants: pesticides used in agriculture and on urban and private green spaces, heavy metals, aromatic compounds, dioxins and many others. This analysis is instrumental in controlling pollution in the environment surrounding the production plant and the inhabited area of Sant’Agata Bolognese, thanks to the wide “foraging” of the bees, i.e., their flight to collect nectar and pollen, within a radius of approximately 3 km.

The project undertaken by Automobili Lamborghini has recently been further enriched by an experimental study for biomonitoring of solitary bee colonies. Solitary bees differ from social bees for their shorter foraging radius (200 meters) and because each female takes care of her own offspring, unlike social bees which only take care of the queen bee’s offspring. The colonies, made up of reed houses located inside Lamborghini Park and near the production site, make it possible to monitor more specific areas, thanks to the shorter foraging radius, and to collect even more effective data for studying the environmental impact of the site.

The bee biomonitoring project is part of a broader environmental sustainability strategy that Lamborghini has been pursuing since 2009 and that led the company to be awarded certification as a CO2 neutral company in 2015, which has been maintained even following the recent doubling of the production site.

by Kaelen for use by 360 MAGAZINE

Hot Cheetos Inventor Richard Montanez

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The SCLC’s Streets to the Suites Campaign Will Target PepsiCo to Help Resolve Dispute Between the Global Food and Beverage Giant and Retired Longtime Hispanic Executive Richard Montanez

Montanez’s Legacy of Creating Flamin’ Hot Cheetos for Frito-Lay is Being Challenged by the Company. SCLC President Dr. Charles Steele, Jr. Said Montanez’s Contributions Should Not Be Diminished

Dr. Charles Steele, Jr., president and CEO of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the organization co-founded and first led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said the SCLC will lead a campaign to help resolve a dispute between PepsiCo and retired, long time Hispanic executive Richard Montanez, who is known as the creator of Frito-Lay’s successful snack brand, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.

Montanez, who was a keynote speaker during the SCLC’s annual conference in 2017, shared his journey of climbing the corporate ladder in PepsiCo from a janitor to an executive vice president after he introduced Flamin’ Hot Cheetos to the company.

His rags to riches story has been chronicled in numerous media reports and in his recently published memoir. His life’s story will also be featured in an upcoming film by Christian Producer Devon Franklin and Hispanic American actress and director Eva Longoria. Shooting for the film is scheduled to begin this summer.

Dr. Steele said SCLC officials will seek an immediate meeting with Ramon L. Laguarta, the chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, to help mediate an agreement between both sides and to protect Mr. Montanez’s legacy. The outreach by the SCLC is part of a national campaign the organization launched last fall called “From the Streets to the Suites,” targeting corporations that have been accused of discriminating against employees of color or maintaining environments that are hostile or unjust. The first protest was waged against the Nielsen Co., the global data and measurement company, which was sued by a senior Black executive for discrimination. That lawsuit was settled in March.

Dr. Steele said the timing of PepsiCo’s claims is suspect.

“PepsiCo is one of the leading companies in the world,” Dr. Steele said. “It hires the top PR and Marketing executives who are supported by the largest public relations, marketing and advertising agencies in the world. They review media reports daily. How can this story be in the public domain for years without being detected by the top executives in the world hired to protect their brand? Pepsi would not have elevated a Brown or Black man, with no high school diploma, unless he had contributed in a significant way. PepsiCo cannot disrespect a man like Richard Montanez without some fallout or repercussion.”

Dr. Steele added, “Our organization and our communities will not stand for this. We will not sit idly by and watch a valuable member of our community, who has contributed significantly, as confirmed by PepsiCo, be disrespected without evidence showing who presented the concept to the company. This idea originated in the brain of one person. This was not the creation of a team. Until proven otherwise, we will stick with Montanez’s claim. I just hope this is not systemic racism continuing in another corporation by PepsiCo refusing to grant what is due to a man who has served them well.”

ABOUT THE SCLC

Established in 1957, the SCLC, whose first president was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is an international organization made up of chapters and affiliates with programs that affect the lives of all Americans: north, south, east, and west. Its sphere of influence and interests have become international in scope because the human rights movement transcends national boundaries. 

Headphones Illustration x Heather Skovlund x STACEY x Saturn Return for use by 360 Magazine

STACEY x Saturn Return

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LA-based indie pop singer, songwriter and Wurlitzer enthusiast, STACEY, is sharing her retro-celestial, debut album, Saturn Return, with the universe this Friday, May 21. Saturn Return a time of aligning with one’s true path is a musical cruise from 60s psychedelic day-trips to glossy 70s daydreams, and STACEY crystallizes the nostalgic longing of golden age pop records into lyrical refractions for the modern era. With previous singles “The Songwriter,” “One Woman,” “D.M.T” and “Far Away,” the energy of “That 70s show chic” (LADYGUNN) and “Psychedelic pop with a modern twist” (Wonderland Magazine) has been illuminated in full technicolour already and tmrw Magazine says, “If the goal was to enchant us all into anticipating the upcoming album, it has certainly worked.”

Today, STACEY shares the final single before the album comes out. “Strange (But I Like It)” is the crux of STACEY’s Saturn Return journey – leaving one’s home planet in pursuit of finding oneself and also finding a few fellow alien friends. The official music video is STACEY’s directorial debut, a 60s space-age Barbarella-inspired voyage. It is weird, tripped out, fashion, and a totally fun ride. Strange, yet so likable, the video features a Playboy-inspired 1970s Futuro house, a band of STACEYs, an alien entanglement, and so much more.

On the latest single, STACEY says, “I’m so proud of this video as my directorial debut. Being an indie artist in a pandemic, I took on many roles to keep the team small and safe; I figured I’d just be my own band, so I learned all the instruments. I also produced, styled, art directed, and set decorated.

Stylistically, I borrowed elements from classic films like Barbarella (1968) and The 10th Victim (1965). I also got really into space age-era fashion designers like Pierre Cardin and Rudi Gernriech, styling each of the band characters in authentic pieces of theirs. The singer’s dress however I had custom made. I dove deep into space-age design and architecture and was over the moon to connect with the owner of the yellow Idyllwild Futuro home. It was a dream to shoot there.

I wanted to tell the story of traveling to a new place on your own, how it can be a bumpy start but eventually, you find your fellow weirdo alien friends and begin to feel at home in yourself and amongst your like-minded community. It represents one of the most pivotal journeys of my Saturn Return.”

Her face has graced 12 billboards in Los Angeles and her music has been heard on Netflix’ Spinning Out, Lucifer (x3), Orphan Black (x2), MTV Scream, Degrassi, Wynonna Earp, iZombie, Teen Mom: Young & Pregnant (x4) and more. She’s performed virtually for Home School by It’s a School Night x BandsInTown, and prior to the pandemic, she was playing with greats like Cameron Avery of Tame Impala, Tamino and Charlotte Day Wilson.

With over a million streams on Spotify last year, several handfuls of playlist placements (like New Music Friday x3, Fresh Finds x3 and more), and a cover spot of Spotify’s “Outliers” playlist, not to mention lots of love from Apple Music as well, it’s clear that STACEY is one to watch in 2021. In fact, Ones to Watch raves, “STACEY’s voice dazzles,” and Clash muses over her “Wistful, summer-fresh songwriting.” Well, in that case, her debut album is arriving right on time for Summer 2021. Stay tuned for more STACEY.

WATCH THE “STRANGE (BUT I LIKE IT)” VIDEO HERE

LISTEN HERE

Photo by Mikayla Miller courtesy of Big Hassle x STACEY x Saturn Return for use by 360 Magazine

photo of STACEY

STACEY x Saturn Return x Big Hassle x Leigh Greaney and Michael Eisele for use by 360 Magazine

Album Cover for STACEY’s new album Saturn Return

By Mina Tocalini for 360 MAGAZINE

POST-PANDEMIC BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

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Rethinking Business Development for the Post-Pandemic Age

With America’s post-pandemic geography shifting, local governments must partner with entrepreneurs to stay competitive.

America’s rapidly shifting post-pandemic geography poised to make winners and losers of various superstar and mid-sized towns, the business development approaches of local leaders are stuck in the past. State and local governments spend $61 billion annually to foster economic development, but more than three-quarters of this money is spent on subsidies for large corporations that rarely deliver significant growth. A new Manhattan Institute report from Ian Hathaway and Rhett Morris, senior fellows at the Center for American Entrepreneurship, suggests that economic development would increase significantly if local decision makers would prioritize partnerships with entrepreneurs. The report, part of the Manhattan Institute’s urban policy series, offers four steps to achieving what they call entrepreneur-led economic development. Those steps include:

  • Identifying the successful entrepreneurial businesses in the region, the local strengths they represent, and the key leaders behind their growth.
  • Building networks around successful local entrepreneurs to connect them with founders of upcoming businesses with the potential to grow.
  • Partnering with entrepreneurial leaders to address the real needs of growing local businesses and their entrepreneurs.
  • Collecting data on growing entrepreneurial businesses to track results and share findings with the community.

Entrepreneurial success depends on local networks. No single type of organization has all the data necessary for identifying every growing entrepreneurial business in a city, but if policymakers, funders, and service providers work together to generate local growth and productivity, their collective resources can complement existing economic development programs and enhance some of the most valuable economic assets already growing in their communities.