Posts made in June 2021

1500 SOUND ACADEMY × ASU — MUSIC PROGRAM

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COURSES OFFER ASPIRING MUSIC STUDENTS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT MUSIC PRODUCTION, RECORDING AND ENGINEERING, SONGWRITING, MIXING, BUSINESS AND BRANDING FROM INDUSTRY PROS

1500 Sound Academy, a music education institution based in Inglewood, California headed by Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter producers James Fauntleroy and Larrance “Rance” Dopson, and entrepreneur Twila True, has announced a new partnership with Arizona State University (ASU). The institutions have joined forces to launch a co-branded, certificate-based, self-paced online music program. Courses will provide top notch instruction in music production, engineering, songwriting, mixing, music business and artist branding, and are available today, with enrollment for the program now open to all students and the general public. You can enroll by clicking HERE.

Together, with their educational expertise in the music industry, 1500 Sound Academy and ASU’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts School of Music, Dance and Theatre, with contributions from active music professionals, have formed a unique program titled “Professional Certificate in Music Production,” that offers valuable insight to help students discover the many career paths available in the music industry. Courses include a focus on skill development as well as exposure to leading experts in the music industry with interview sessions led by Professor of Practice Daniel Bernard Roumain, PhD.

Said Fauntleroy: “We are thrilled to launch our first collegiate partnership. Arizona State University has been in-tune when it comes to the ethos of 1500 Sound Academy and sharing the knowledge of the music industry’s inner-workings. Added Dopson, “Our goal has always been to lead by example and share our knowledge and insights of the business with people. We’re honored ASU acknowledges and celebrates this idea.”

“ASU is proud to join with 1500 Sound Academy to create practical, technological experiences,” said Heather Landes, director of the ASU School of Music, Dance and Theatre. “Dr. Roumain and our director of the popular music program, Erin Barra-Jean, along with acclaimed artists like DJ Spooky, Black Violin, Hollywood film composer Tamar Kali, and founder of the MAGIK*MAGIK orchestra Minna Choi provide an immersive survey of best practices and innovation in the recording and collaborative arts,” added Dr. Landes.

The “Professional Certificate in Music Production” will include six specialized music courses:

Music Production Techniques with Ableton Live: This course offers today’s music creators with a foundation on the necessary concepts, terminology and techniques of modern studio track composition.

Recording & Engineering Fundamentals: The digital audio workstation (DAW) is the centerpiece of the recording studio. Students learn the fundamentals of getting sound into the DAW and shaping the sound using EQ, compression and other techniques.

The Contemporary Songwriter: Songwriters create timeless emotion from nothing but melody and lyrics. This course demystifies the songwriting process and arms the modern songwriter with melodic and lyrical concepts to deepen their craft.

Mixing Essentials: The mix can make or break a song and when it is done right, it goes unnoticeable. This course teaches how to listen and knowing how to make songs sound like you want them.

The Business of Music 101: Music creators are copyright owners, brand owners and publishing companies, whether they know it or not. This course outlines the pillars of a music creator’s corporate structure.

Branding for the Contemporary Artist: This course digs deeply into the psyche of the artist, as well as the practical side of being an artist and setting up an authentic brand and performance.

About 1500 Sound Academy:

1500 Sound Academy strives to produce passionate sound creators with mentorship, positive mindset, and professional development. Featuring state-of-the-art facilities, an award-winning staff and unique curriculum, 1500 Sound Academy functions as a gateway between school and career by providing instruction in current and emerging business practices of the music industry for creators around the world. The academy is led by an accomplished team, consisting of Grammy award-winning R&B/Pop singer-songwriter James Fauntleroy, musician and Grammy award-winning producer Larrance “Rance” Dopson, and successful entrepreneur and executive, Twila True, Co-Founder of True Family Enterprises, a privately held family office based in Orange County, California. 1500 Sound Academy is a subsidiary of Volume Ventures, LLC, an independent, multi-faceted entertainment company that provides comprehensive music and video production, publishing, and education services to aspiring and established recording artists, songwriters, musicians and music videographers. 1500 Sound Academy has a top-notch curriculum that has featured some of the biggest music stars. Guest lecturers at the academy have included such world-renowned artists as: Kendrick Lamar, Bruno Mars, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Master P and Snoop Dogg, to name a few. Brand partners include: Dolby, Fender, Roland and Zildjian.

About Arizona State University:

Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American Research University, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities that surround it.

About the ASU School of Music, Dance and Theatre:

The School of Music, Dance and Theatre in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University is widely recognized for preparing artists, scholars, visionaries and entrepreneurs to become innovative leaders who transform society through their creativity. Our internationally recognized faculty artists, scholars and guest artists are motivating and compassionate mentors who work with students to cultivate excellence and personal growth. Our nationally recognized programs feature a comprehensive range of degrees plus minors and certificates and more than 600 concerts, events, performances, productions and recitals each year. Located in the culturally rich Southwest in one of the most vibrant, expanding urban centers, our programs afford students access to a diverse environment and engagement in Phoenix’s flourishing arts community. Above all, we value the creativity, personal experience and voice each student brings to the school.

Bluebucksclan – Different Levels Music Video

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**BLUEBUCKSCLAN FLEX & FLOSS IN NEW DIFFERENT LEVELS VIDEO WATCH HERE**

Since their emergence in 2019, the pair has been busy – Rolling Stone

L.A.’s best duo. – Pitchfork

It’s clear that BlueBucksClan is only getting started – COMPLEX

BlueBucksClan have built their own high-speed lane – Billboard

Jeeezy and DJ are all about fashion, women and clever sports references, and their natural sense of humor has garnered attention all over L.A. and beyond – XXL

Los Angeles rap duo BlueBucksClan unleash a fly new video for their mid tempo braggadocious Loyalty-produced track, Different Levels, out now via Out The Blue Records. Watch the video HERE. It stands out as yet another anthem from the group’s recent mixtape, Clan Virus 2, which only continues to gain steam.

In true BluckBucksClan fashion, the visual directed by frequent collaborator Tevo Laron, finds the duo turning up in a private plane, flossing a lavish lifestyle and flexing with bulletproof bars. As the video intercuts footage inside and outside of an upscale restaurant, their palpable charisma, and suave pops off the screen.

Clan Virus 2 has cemented the duo as a West Coast force to be reckoned with. Inciting widespread critical applause from Rolling Stone and more, FLAUNT Magazine exclaimed, When it comes to who’s running the streets of Los Angeles on the rap tip, look no further than BlueBucksClan, and XXL observed, BlueBucksClan’s movement is going strong as their style and sound evolves. Earmilk christened them one of the strongest new acts coming out of the city. To date, Clan Virus 2 has already gathered over 22 million streams and counting, boasting standouts such as Lil League (feat. Quavo & Hit-Boy).

Clan Virus 2 hit No. 9 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums Chart and they themselves hit No. 16 on Rolling Stone’s Breakthrough 25. HipHopDX wrote that the group was the city’s hottest new talent. Complex hailed them Rappers to Watch in 2021 and Billboard included them on their 6 LA Rappers to Watch in 2021

FOLLOW BLUEBUCKSCLAN via their Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Soundcloud.

About BlueBucksClan

BlueBucksClan are driving Los Angeles’ rap renaissance forward slowly, steadily, and mercilessly. Since emerging in 2019, the duo of DJ and Jeeezy have captivated their city with hypnotic beats, mind-melding verbal chemistry, and vivid tales of shutting down the club while draped in designer drip. Together, these lifelong friends who met on the football field are taking the fierce sound of contemporary SoCal street rap and making it regal, bringing the hood to Beverly Hills. Each new cinematic song affirms that these two men from the rough parts of South L.A. are leveling up, wearing shoes that cost more than your rent and driving foreign cars with beautiful women riding shotgun. In addition to garnering praise from SPIN, Billboard, and Pitchfork, who called them L.A.’s best duo, BlueBucksClan were featured on COMPLEX’s list of Rappers to Watch in 2021 and Billboard included them on their 6 LA Rappers to Watch in 2021 list. Making good on that, Clan Virus 2, is their seventh project in two years. They’ve refined their deadpan punchlines, flamboyant boasts, and charismatic back-and-forth delivery as quickly as they’ve expanded their wardrobes, car collections, and fanbase. In an era where shallow hooks take precedence over bars, BlueBucksClan bring you into their world one clever couplet at a time. With Clan Virus 2, DJ and Jeeezy invite fans into their luxurious universe once more, bringing their city with them on their meteoric rise. In the U.S. alone BlueBucksClan have generated nearly 85 million streams to date.

RZA’s 36 Cinema Screens Five Deadly Venoms

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36 Cinema Reveals Next Screening: Five Deadly Venoms, Next iteration of Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu Theater on June 12th With live commentary from RZA and Dan Halsted, New Bobby Digital Single to be Unveiled During Screening

RZA’s kung fu streaming series – Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu Theater – returns this Saturday (June 12th) with a highly anticipated screening of the 1978 Shaw Brothers’ classic: Five Deadly Venoms. The film will be streaming live on 36 Cinema, with live commentary provided by kung fu aficionados RZA and Dan Halsted.

Widely regarded as one of the most influential and enduring films of kung fu cinema’s heyday, Five Deadly Venoms tells the story of a dying kung fu master who instructs his final student to check on the activities of five former pupils, each of whom he taught a deadly style of kung fu: Centipede, Snake, Scorpion, Lizard, and Toad. The student must then team up with one of the other good pupils to destroy the evil ones. Greed, treachery, grueling training sequences, and jaw-dropping fight scenes ensue!

Five Deadly Venoms was actually the first kung fu flick RZA ever saw, introducing him to a genre of film that would have a profound impact on his life. RZA first saw the film at 42nd Street theater in Manhattan in 1979 with his cousin Ol’ Dirty Bastard; they eventually got their hands on the VHS and proceeded to watch the film countless times throughout their adolescence. RZA has credited Five Deadly Venoms for sparking his initial interest in kung fu cinema and culture, which would become a life’s passion and a major aspect of Wu-Tang’s brand and aesthetic.

RZA even sampled dialogue from Five Deadly Venoms on Da Mystery of Chessboxin’ from Wu-Tang’s debut album Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers): Toad style is immensely strong, and immune to nearly any weapon, when it’s properly used it’s almost invisible.

Five Deadly Venoms is the second iteration of Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu Theater, following the initial screening of Heroes Of The East, another Shaw Brothers classic, in April. With several more screenings slated throughout the summer, RZA will continue to spotlight some of the perennial films of kung fu cinema on 36 Cinema: a first-of-its-kind digital screening platform.

During Saturday’s screening, RZA will also unveil a brand new single from a forthcoming solo project due out later this year. The new single will follow the release of Pugilism, RZA’s first solo single in 13 years, which was announced during the Heroes Of The East screening.

Five Deadly Venoms will stream on 36 Cinema on June 12th starting at 3pm ET, buy tickets here. The screening will be replayed at 9pm ET.

Five Deadly Venoms posters and t-shirts are available to purchase in the 36 Chambers show here.

Watch the Five Deadly Venoms Trailer here.

About 36 Cinema

36 Cinema is a first-of-its-kind ticketed experience that brings together film screening with live in-depth commentary with directors, actors, critics and super fans. The intent of 36 Cinema is to provide viewers with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the films that have inspired and influenced generations of cinephiles. 36 Cinema is distinguished from the VOD/streaming marketing in that the screenings are live events. Audience members are also able to submit questions which the hosts answer live during the screening. All events are ticketed with licensing deals in place with the accredited rights-holders.

Previous hosts of 36 Cinema screenings include director Jim Jarmusch (Ghost Dog, Coffee and Cigarettes), actor Michael Jai White (Black Dynamite, Tyson, Why Did I Get Married), actor and martial artist Scott Adkins (The Bourne Ultimatum, Zero Dark Thirty etc.), film archivist Warrington Hudlin, comedian Donell Rawlings, stunt actress Shaina West, among others. The platform also partnered with key cultural institutions such as the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in DC and the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens.

Follow RZA, Bobby Digital and the rest of 36 Cinema via their Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, their website and YouTube.

Mayday Parade Announces Fall Tour with Microwave

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MAYDAY PARADE ANNOUNCE HEADLINE TOUR DATES FOR FALL 2021, TICKETS ON SALE THIS FRIDAY, JUNE 11

Making their triumphant return to the stage, Mayday Parade are thrilled to announce their upcoming fall headline tour featuring support from Microwave. VIP pre-sale is available starting tomorrow, June 9 at 10 am local time, with general on-sale beginning this Friday, June 11 at 10 am local time. All tickets and additional information are available HERE.

The run kicks off on September 8 in their home state, Florida. Full routing can be found below. We are beyond excited to hit the road once again this September, guitarist Brooks Betts shared. It’s been way too long, and we won’t keep you waiting any longer!

Known for their incredibly high energy live shows, Mayday Parade released Live At Screaming Eagle earlier this year. The 4-track EP was recorded during their October 2020 virtual concert event dubbed the Out of Here Sessions. I love how these songs turned out, frontman Derek Sanders said. Playing them live was a highlight of 2020 for me.

2020 marked a stark departure for the Tallahassee, FL band, who typically play several festivals and hundreds of shows across North America and internationally each year. After spending most of the year apart, the band – Derek Sanders, Brooks Betts, Alex Garcia, Jake Bundrick, and Jeremy Lenzo – got together for two special virtual show events, starting with the Out of Here Session in October, followed by the Anywhere But Here Session which highlighted a front-to-back performance of their 2009 sophomore LP Anywhere But Here. In addition to the headline tour, the band already announced exciting performances at Riot Fest (Chicago, IL), Four Chord Music Fest (Pittsburgh, PA), Furnace Festival (Birmingham, AL), Nova Rock Festival (Austria), Greenfield Festival (Switzerland), Hurricane Festival (Germany), and Southside Festival (Germany), with more to come on the horizon.

Follow Mayday Parade and their tour via their website, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

BUKU: Planet B

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BUKU Music + Art Project Reveals Lineup for BUKU: Planet B

A One-Time-Only Alternate Take on BUKU Taking Place October 22 and October 23 2021 in New Orleans

Featuring Megan Thee Stallion, ILLENIUM, Machine Gun Kelly, Playboi Carti, Kaytranada, Zeds Dead, Alison Wonderland, Jamie xx, Pooh Shiesty, Chris Lake, Still Woozy, EARTHGANG, Ghostemane, Ashnikko, Subtronics, SVDDEN DEATH: VOYD, Arlo Parks, Flo Milli, LSDREAM, Purple Disco Machine, Remi Wolf, slowthai, $NOT, Yung Baby Tate, and many more

Register for Presale Now for Access to Lowest-Priced Tickets

Presale Begins Thursday June 10

General Onsale Monday June 14

BUKU Music + Art Project, New Orleans’s premiere multi-faceted boutique music festival, announced the lineup for BUKU: Planet B, a one-time-only fall iteration of its flagship spring event. Planet B offers up an alternative way to dance through the rabbit-hole of BUKU on the banks of the Big Easy. Aiming to celebrate the resiliency of New Orleans and the triumphant return of live music, BUKU: Planet B is purposefully boutique in size but captures the expansive multi-genre curatorial ethos of BUKU, welcoming over 50 acts to its creative playground on October 22-23, 2021.

For the past decade, BUKU has fostered a boutique festival experience that proudly reflects the diverse and progressive subculture of New Orleans. It’s birthed the #BUKREWE, a community of festival lovers, carnival kings and queens, ragers and twerkers, that come in all shapes and sizes, flowing together along the banks of the Mississippi. Those in the know can attest to the wild costumes, unhinged self-expression, and myriad of personalities that set the BUKU vibe from start to finish and have made it one of North America’s most authentic places to party.

Continuing its melting pot approach to curation, BUKU: Planet B welcomes a lineup that spans genre and style. Topping the bill are some of modern music’s biggest stars like powerhouse hip-hop icon Megan Thee Stallion, melodic bass music’s ultimate champion Illenium, pop-punk vocalist Machine Gun Kelly, experimental rapper Playboi Carti, and Memphis rap chart-topper Pooh Shiesty.

As you would expect in New Orleans, dancing takes center stage at Planet B with the cutting-edge eclecticism of producers Kaytranada and Jamie xx, Australian dance music producer and vocalist Alison Wonderland, and the trio of bass titans Zeds Dead, Subtronics, and SVDDEN DEATH: VOYD. Adding to the diverse vibe, Chris Lake and Purple Disco Machine will also treat the #BUKREWE to their discography of genre-defining house heaters.

Forward-thinking live performances remain in focus at Planet B with feel-good frequencies from singer Still Woozy, bone-crushing vibes from industrial rap/metal artist Ghostemane, next gen star British singer-songwriter and poet Arlo Parks, genre-bending rap/electro-pop performer Ashnikko, and high-energy rappers EARTHGANG, Flo Milli, slowthai, Yung Baby Tate, and $NOT.

As a barometer for the sounds taking over tomorrow, BUKU: Planet B welcomes breakout stars like Remi Wolf, Dua Saleh, Moore Kismet, VNSSA, 박혜진 Park Hye Jin, TVBOO and others, plus over 20 local New Orleans acts in an effort to showcase and support the local arts community, including the first festival performance by Pell’s GLBL WRMNG collective.

“For the past year, we’ve watched our fans step outside of their comfort zones and persevere through weird times,” said Dante DiPasquale, BUKU’s co-creator. “PLANET B is the result of us being inspired by them to do the same, and all of us at Team BUKU are excited to finally party with them again.”

Set against the uniquely New Orleans backdrop of the haunting Market Street Power Plant and the historic grounds of the old TwiRoPa venue, Planet B aims to harness the chaos of the last year and release it in the form of raw creativity. Attendees will be guided between multiple stage environments, a dizzying landscape of art installations, street-artist performances, and a multitude of surprises. Fans may find themselves mesmerized by a local graffiti artist, enhancing their costume with a custom face painting, joining a marching band procession, catching a pop-up breakdancing crew or just hanging with friends while gazing at the New Orleans skyline. It’s an urban oasis as much about oddities and community as it is about the headliners.

Civic duty too remains at the heart of the BUKU spirit, as the event organizers continue their Social Responsibility Commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment geared towards social justice, reducing the environmental impact of the event, and supporting New Orleans community organizations. BUKU doubled down on this commitment in 2020 alongside its charitable partner Upbeat Academy by launching their Take Action Project (“TAP”). Thus far, the project has completed three fan-mobilizing campaigns raising over $10,000 for racial justice, voting rights, and environmental sustainability organizations. BUKU will continue this mission in 2021 alongside Upbeat Academy, a non-profit that inspires and empowers New Orleans youth through music education, who also act as the beneficiary of proceeds from every ticket sold to BUKU or Planet B. Learn more about these programs here.

BUKU: Planet B will be the ultimate release for music fans in dire need of connection and creative exploration. It will continue to provide an inclusive home for the technicolor characters that call New Orleans home while welcoming #BUKREWE far and wide to experience the city’s eccentric culture for themselves. Come and get it.

FULL LINEUP:

Megan Thee Stallion

ILLENIUM

Machine Gun Kelly

Playboi Carti

Kaytranada

Zeds Dead

Alison Wonderland

Jamie xx

Pooh Shiesty

Chris Lake

Still Woozy

EARTHGANG

Ghostemane

Ashnikko

Subtronics

SVDDEN DEATH: VOYD

Arlo Parks

Flo Milli

LSDREAM

Purple Disco Machine

Remi Wolf

slowthai

$NOT

Yung Baby Tate

Chee

Dua Saleh

Lucii

Mize

Moore Kismet

박혜진 Park Hye Jin

Pears

Pell presents: GLBL WRMNG

ssgkobe

TVBOO

VNSSA

504icygrl

ANTWIGADEE!

BluShakurX

Bouffant Bouffant

DJ Heelturn

Don Peyote B2B BuckTen

GØ PNIK

Lady Lavender

Lango

Legatron Prime

Lil Iceberg

Malik Ninety Five

Odd the Artist

Rob49

Stone Cold Jzzle

Treety

ZiggMonster

About Winter Circle Productions:
Winter Circle Productions began in 2009 as an independent promotion and production house to attract music that its founders felt was missing from a post-Katrina New Orleans. Creator of BUKU Music + Art Project and five-time recipient of the Offbeat Best Promoter Award, WCP is now celebrating its 12th year anniversary as one of the most trusted tastemakers on the Gulf Coast, having produced thousands of shows across many musical genres in dozens of venues. WCP joined AEG Presents in 2015 to run its new Gulf Coast regional office and in 2020 became the operator of Hangout Music Festival. In addition to concert production, the members of WCP founded the Upbeat Academy Foundation, a non-profit organization providing New Orleans youth with opportunities to study hip-hop and dance music production.

PEACH TREE RASCALS — OH HONEY (I LOVE YOU)

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Today, California misfit collective Peach Tree Rascals share a new music video for “Oh Honey (I Love You),” a sentimental track off of their debut EP, Camp Nowhere, released March 26 via Homemade Projects/10K Projects. Produced by James Bahmen and directed by creative house Kids Don’t Know, the new music video shares the enduring love story of an elderly couple in flashbacks to their younger years, when they first fell in love. Starring bandmate Joseph Barros as the main character, the new video is a testament of lasting enduring devotion, featuring cameos from each of the Rascals. Watch the music video for “Oh Honey (I Love You)” HERE.

The new music video arrives shortly after Peach Tree Rascals’ breakout hit “Mariposa” became RIAA-certified Gold, and after the group’s new cover of John Mayer’s “Stop This Train,” available now exclusively on Amazon Music. In the past year, the group has received praise from Billboard, Forbes, The Fader, VMAN, BuzzFeed, and more.

Peach Tree Rascals largely wrote and recorded their debut EP Camp Nowhere in seclusion, finding inspiration while camping. Centered on themes of recovery and healing which they attribute to their increased time outdoors during quarantine, the Rascals debut EP is a comforting and optimistic album for the times.

“Camp Nowhere came from the idea that a lot of people have been using the isolation of quarantine and the state of the world to dig deeper into themselves and figure out what’s important to them,” rapper/singer Tarrek shares. “For some it’s discovering a new hobby, or that it’s time to move on to a new place. For PTR, it was taking a week in Yosemite to dive into our creativity. We’ve always done a combination of sounds that inspire us all. This feels like all of our inspirations mixed together.”

To date, Peach Tree Rascals has garnered 400M+ streams across platforms and count 6M+ Spotify monthly listeners. Their breakthrough hit “Mariposa” charted to #1 on the Alternative Radio Chart and has been co-signed by Lizzo and Harry Styles.

WHO ARE THE PEACH TREE RASCALS?

More of a brotherhood than a collective, The Rascals blend a seemingly effortless knack for melody with layers of rich harmony and R&B grooves. Recording together since their high school days, producer/mixer Dominic “Dom” Pizano, rappers-singers Issac Pech, Tarrek Abdel-Khaliq, Joseph Barros, and creative director Jorge Olazaba united with the intent of seeking musical growth and companionship. With most of the members being second-generation Americans (the sons of Palestinian, Filipino and Mexican immigrants), they quickly realized a deep, natural connection with one another, and grew into a single, harmonious unit. You can buy their merchandise HERE.

Lesibu Grand – Not Sweet Enough

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Atlanta based new wave punk band Lesibu Grand have released their latest music video for their single “Not Sweet Enough,” premiering today with Fangoria. Of the many issues facing women in today’s society, “Not Sweet Enough” tackles two that have gained recent popularity in the public eye: sexual harassment and the renewed legislative attempts to restrict women’s right to choose. In the video, frontwoman Tyler-Simone Molton transforms into a real-life Barbie doll who has to “take care” of her many male aggressors. Fans can watch the video for “Not Sweet Enough” HERE.

“When concepting for the “Not Sweet Enough” video, we knew we wanted to highlight the emotional scars caused by growing up cisgender female in a male dominated patriarchy, and do so with a mix of real fury and dark humor,” Molton shares with Fangoria. “After teaming up with Atlanta video producers Sailorface, we were able to imagine and create this tiny macabre world by shooting in front of a green screen and transporting my image into a dollhouse. I was transformed into several different Barbie characters, which represent the female ideal to many American girls. As Barbie, I had some fun disposing my male aggressors in various ways, such as cutting toy wrestler Randy Orton’s head off and roasting it in the oven; tossing my hairdryer in the spa while Aquaman waits to be served and shoving Skeletor into an iron maiden that Barbie created in her refrigerator.”

This isn’t the first time Lesibu Grand has used their platform to make a statement. Previous singles “WFS” and “Hot Glue Gun” tackle a different side of political activism, from governmental corruption to deeply ingrained societal issues and what we can do as citizens to create change. Fans can stream “Not Sweet Enough” HERE.

About Lesibu Grand

Lesibu Grand (pronounced Le-SEE-boo Grand) is an indie-punk band from Atlanta that grew out of a songwriting partnership between singer Tyler-Simone Molton and bassist John Renaud. The band takes its influences from the NYC new wave scene, particularly Blondie and Talking Heads, 90s rock bands like Bikini Kill and L7, and current contemporaries including Big Joanie, Pleasure Venom, and Nova Twins. Distinguished by Tyler-Simone’s warmer, ethereal vocal style, Lesibu Grand fuses these two strains into a refreshingly modern sound in songs that explore the unexpected joys, sharp anxieties, and beguiling mysteries that abound us all.

Fertility Technology

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The future of home-diagnostic tests

By Aayush Rai, CEO, Inito

During the pandemic, many of us worry about our own health and of our families. And recently, a conversation with a close friend turned to this topic. She has Hypothyroidism and needs to be on lifelong medication to manage the condition.

While managing this ailment in regular times wouldn’t be an issue, doctor visits and trips to the hospital for regular check-ups have either been put on hold or become dangerous and stressful during the pandemic. That led her to use an online service to get her thyroid medication delivered home. The convenience of an online consultation with a doctor and medicine delivery to her doorstep was great; she still had to go to the lab to get a blood test.

Clinicians and patients alike do not want to spend time traveling to labs and incur the expense, pain, and delays associated with traditional testing. And now, there is no need in many cases since there are alternatives such as home blood pressure monitoring, urine pregnancy , ovulation test kits, glucose monitoring, and more. In fact, advances in technology have even made it possible to conceive at home, in the privacy of your own space, without the need to visit a doctor’s office. This is wonderful news for women who are struggling with infertility problems, since home insemination is a cost-effective solution that can be done completely on your own.

Besides being cost-effective, quick, and confidential, home use tests can help:

Detect health conditions even before symptoms arise so that you can get early treatment and lower your chance of developing later complications such as cholesterol, hepatitis, and other STI testing. Home EKG tests can pick up atrial fibrillation long before symptoms arise.
Detect specific conditions when there are no symptoms or signs to take immediate action, such as pregnancy testing so that you avoid alcohol intake and start prenatal vitamins.
Monitor conditions to allow frequent changes in treatment, such as to monitor blood sugar levels in diabetes and making insulin adjustments or adjusting blood pressure medications in the case of hypertension.

While home-use tests are a necessity during the pandemic, the change in user behavior will be permanent. In older days, couples trying to conceive could only track when they are fertile at home using Ovulation Tests. Ovulation tests can be done at home, measuring the presence of L.H., which shows up in the urine after ovulation occurs. Modern ovulation tests like Inito have advanced such testing by measuring the actual value of three essential fertility hormones, two of which predict, in advance, the time of ovulation and one that confirms that it did actually occur.

The user can simply send the chart of their hormones to the doctor rather than going through the anxiety and stress of lab tests. Once users and doctors experience the ease of use of these, they will not want to back to traditional methods.

People want to live healthy lives autonomously without excessive medical intervention. Even after the pandemic, consumers will continue to adopt home diagnostics. As technology sufficiently matures, every house will have a single connected device capable of conducting these tests – becoming as much a part of the household as a thermometer is today. This is especially critical in the U.S., given the high incidence of chronic diseases.

About 45% of the U.S. population – close to 133 million Americans have at least one chronic disease. The total costs for direct treatment for chronic conditions totalled $1.1 trillion —equivalent to nearly six percent of the U.S. GDP. Diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and osteoarthritis are the most expensive conditions in direct healthcare costs.

For people with diabetes, the HbA1c test (also known as the hemoglobin A1c or glycated hemoglobin test) is an essential indicator of their average glucose levels. It indicates how well their disease is controlled and must be taken every three months. Not testing regularly can lead to the condition spiralling out of control, risking life, and increased costs of care. Many other conditions, like Hypothyroidism, require constant monitoring and lifelong medication.

The ability to conduct home testing dovetails perfectly with online consultation and medicine delivery. With modern connected devices, patients can directly share test reports with their doctors, consult with them online, have their prescriptions renewed, and await the arrival of medicines at their doorstep. A complete ecosystem.

Managing conditions at home will gradually become a norm, as we build out this complete ecosystem. By taking travel and waiting times out and delivering care faster, home diagnostics can save us millions of years, spent in the pursuit of our health at an equivalent or even lower cost.

Inito is the world’s first home device that tests for fertility hormones on a single device connected to a smartphone. This groundbreaking device is the only ovulation test to perform lab-grade fertility diagnostic tests at home.

NOTHING BUT THIEVES – FUTUREPROOF

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RELEASE NEW SINGLE & VIDEO

THIRD ALBUM ‘MORAL PANIC’ OUT NOW

AUTUMN 2021 UK, IRELAND AND EUROPEAN TOUR ON SALE NOW

“Political turmoil, climate change, and the toxicity of the internet all pour into Nothing But Thieves record Moral Panic.” TLOBF

“The band achieve another phenomenal album” Clash

“This is the sound of a band who understand their audience but also delight in taking risks” Gigwise

“A living, breathing, and characteristically anthemic, beast of an album” Music OMH

LISTEN/EMBED HERE.

Following the release of their #3 acclaimed third album Moral Panic last year, Southend five-piece Nothing But Thieves have released their dark and explorative new single and video Futureproof via Sony Music UK/RCA Records, which was premiered on BBC Radio 1 last night as Annie Mac’s Hottest Record in the World.

Nothing But Thieves are a band that continue to evolve their sound, and new single Futureproof sees them experiment further whilst remaining authentically them. Produced by Richard Costey (Biffy Clyro, Foo Fighters, Muse) and recorded between London’s RAK Studios and guitarist/keyboardist Dom’s home studio, it is a sinister, dynamic and unpredictable track that examines the meaning of self-preservation through powerful lyrics. The video, directed by Jake Jelicich, sees the band bathed in an auburn glow giving an intense performance that is filmed chaotically, matching the energy and uneasiness of the song. The band say;

“’Futureproof’ is about self-preservation; what that means to different people and the lengths that those people would go to achieve it.

It’s designed to be a guitar rock and hip-hop hybrid. That can be a bit of an eye roller and it’s easy to get wrong, but there’s a parallel between some of our heavier songs and the more aggressive side of hip-hop, which we wanted to try and get at. It’s dark and chromatic and then it’s mixed like a hip-hop track with loud drums and vocals. The idea was to try and explore that territory in the most authentic and fresh way.”

Futureproof follows the singles Is Everybody Going Crazy?, Real Love Song and Impossible released last year from their third album Moral Panic, which achieved over 102 million streams and saw support from the likes of BBC Radio 1, Virgin Radio and Radio X alongside winning Best Indie Act at Global Radio’s 2021 Awards. The album was a poignant moral outcry on the world tinged with emotion, anger and hope, which thematically touched on climate change, anxiety around social media, political chaos and an overall desire to switch off. Moral Panic followed their 2018 EP What Did You Think When You Made Me This Way, their 2017 acclaimed album Broken Machine, which charted at #2 in the UK album chart, and their debut self-titled album Nothing But Thieves.

The past few years have been quite a ride for Nothing But Thieves. Amassing over 1 million worldwide album sales and over 907 million worldwide streams, they have built up a loyal and wide following for their impactful alt rock sound, cementing themselves as one of the best current rock bands in the world. Selling 150,000 tickets on their last album campaign, which included a sold-out show at London’s Alexandra Palace and selling out their entire worldwide Broken Machine headline tour, their success has been global.

The band have performed on US TV shows, such as James Corden and Jimmy Kimmel, after their debut became the bestselling debut from a UK rock band in the US in 2015 and played packed out international shows from Poland to Amsterdam, where they headlined an arena to 6,000 fans. After intimately debuting new songs early last year for a BRITs/War Child gig, they were set to tour internationally last Spring, including a show to 6,500 people at Moscow Adrenaline Stadium.

Following 3 livestream performances Live from the Warehouse last year to launch Moral Panic, they are finally bringing songs from the album to live audiences this Autumn with a UK, Ireland and European tour, including their biggest ever headline London show at O2 Arena. With a well-earned reputation for their energetic, impassioned and infinite live shows, it’s a tour not to be missed. Full dates are as follows:

September 2021

Thurs 30^th Dublin Olympia

October 2021

Sat 2^nd Belfast Ulster Hall

Wed 6^th Plymouth Pavillions

Thurs 7^th Cardiff Motorpoint Arena

Fri 8^th London O2 Arena

Sun 10^th Birmingham O2 Academy – sold out

Mon 11^th Glasgow Barrowland – sold out

Tues 12^th Glasgow Barrowland – new date added

Thurs 14^th Manchester O2 Victoria Warehouse – sold out

Fri 15^th Manchester O2 Victoria Warehouse – new date added

Sat 16^th Nottingham Motorpoint Arena

Mon 18^th Barcelona Razzamataz 2

Wed 20^th Paris Casino de Paris

Sun 24^th Wiesbaden Schlachtohof

Tues 26^th Leizig Täubchenthal

Thurs 28^th Berlin Columbiahalle

November 2021

Tues 2^nd Munich Tonhalle

Wed 3^rd Milan Fabrique

Fri 5^th Zurich Halle 622

Sat 6^th Luxembourg Atelier

Mon 8^th Copenhagen Amager Bio

Tues 9^th Stockholm Fryhuset

Thurs 11^th Köln Palladium

Fri 12^th Amsterdam Ziggo Dome

Nothing But Thieves are Conor Mason (vocals, guitars), Joe Langridge-Brown (guitars), Dominic Craik (guitars, keyboard), Philip Blake (bass guitar) and James Price (drums).

To Listen/Watch “Futureproof”:

Multi – HERE

To Buy/Stream Moral Panic listen HERE.

*Photo Credit: Frank Fieber

Tech Distributor mophie Announces New Products

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Mophie, a leading brand in power, announced its snap line of magnetic products compatible with the iPhone 12 smartphone family. mophie snap accessories leverage the integrated magnetic array of the iPhone 12 to attach everything from charging cables to vent mounts and portable batteries.

“The snap ecosystem from mophie really improves the wireless charging experience,” said Charlie Quong, vice president of product development at mophie. “The snap accessories align with the MagSafe feature of the iPhone 12, making charging a snap every time. The snap ecosystem also brings the magnetic mounting function to other Qi-charging smartphones, including older iPhone models, Samsung Galaxy, and more via the snap adapter included with all snap accessories.” The mophie snap ecosystem includes:

snap vent mount–The snap vent mount keeps iPhone 12 and other smartphones at the perfect viewing angle while driving and holds it in portrait or landscape mode. The strong magnets secure your phone in place, making it easy to use for GPS navigation or hands‑free calling.

snap+ wireless charger–Conveniently charge iPhone 12 and other devices with just one charger. The snap+ wireless charger provides up to 7.5W of power to iPhone and up to 15W of wireless power to other Qi compatible smartphones, and it can charge through lightweight phone cases.

snap+ wireless vent mount–Easily charge while you drive! The snap+ wireless charging vent mount delivers up to 15W of power to your phone while holding it at the perfect viewing angle. The strong magnets secure your phone in place and make it easy to use for GPS navigation or hands‑free calling. The snap+ wireless charger is removable for added versatility, and the snap+ wireless vent mount includes a 20W USB-C car adapter.

snap+ juice pack mini–The snap+ juice pack mini contains a 5,000mAh internal battery and demonstrates mophie’s deep commitment to the performance and convenience of mobile power. Use the USB-C input/output port to quickly recharge the snap+ juice pack mini or to charge another device at up to 12W. The magnetic array ensures accurate placement so charging begins on contact, and the integrated four-light LED power indicator displays charging status and current battery life.

snap+ wireless stand–Elevate your charging experience while keeping iPhone 12 and other smartphones at the perfect angle. The strong magnets hold your smartphone in landscape or portrait mode, all while delivering a steady charge of up to 7.5W of power to the iPhone and up to 15W of wireless power to other Qi compatible smartphones. Plus, the stylish design makes this stand a must-have on any desk or nightstand.

snap+ powerstation stand–Stream movies or make video calls without worrying about a low battery! The all-new snap+ powerstation stand contains a 10,000mAh internal battery and charges iPhone 12 and other devices in an ultra-versatile package. The snap+ powerstation stand includes a magnetic array to take advantage of wireless charging at up to 7.5W of power to iPhone, up to 10W of wireless power to other Qi compatible smartphones, and up to 20W of wired USB-C PD power to quickly charge another smartphone. An adjustable stand folds out to turn the powerstation into a portable stand that charges your phone while you text or stream. The snap+ powerstation stand also includes a standard one-quarter inch tripod socket to take your video calls and content creation to the next level. The magnetic array ensures charging begins on contact, so you get the perfect charge every time.

snap adapter–Easily upgrade your existing device to take advantage of the latest tech with the snap adapter. Two included metallic rings add magnetic hold to any Qi-enabled smartphone. The magnetic rings also mean instant compatibility with all snap and snap+ accessories by mophie. The snap adapter kit is sold separately (includes two rings), while each product in the snap ecosystem includes one in-box snap adapter ring.

Availability

The snap+ wireless stand and snap+ powerstation stand will be available on their website during summer/fall 2021. Various products in the snap ecosystem will be available at AT&T, Best Buy, Staples, and Verizon stores nationwide. Each product includes a two-year warranty.

About mophie

Mophie, a leading brand in power, is a California-based, award-winning designer and manufacturer that empowers the mobile world to Stay Powerful. Widely acclaimed for innovative mobile solutions, mophie is the proud developer of the original juice pack®. mophie products are recognized for style and engineered for performance, providing a seamless integration of hardware, software and design. mophie has operations in California, Michigan, Hong Kong, and China. mophie products are available in more than 130 countries, and can be found at Apple, Best Buy, Verizon, and T-Mobile stores, as well as Sprint and other leading retailers.