Posts made in August 2021

CLAIRO’S NEW ALBUM SLING DEBUTS AT #1

Leave a reply

Clairo’s critically acclaimed sophomore album Sling, released on July 16th via FADER Label/Republic Records, debuted at #1 on Billboard Alternative Albums Chart, #2 on Top Rock Albums Chart, and Top 20 on Top 200 Chart. This is the highest album charting debut for the 22-year-old American artist, songwriter, and producer. Listen to Sling here.

Co-produced with Grammy® Award winning producer Jack Antonoff, Sling was recorded at Allaire Studios in Upstate New York and features 12-tracks including “Blouse,” which the 22-year-old performed live on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon last month. Watch the breath-taking performance here.

In celebration of the widely adored record, Clairo recently announced her 2022 headlining North American tour dates, which are quickly selling out. Tickets are on sale now at here.

Praised for her diary-worthy stories earmarked by her devilishly sharp commentary and angelically intimate vocals. The singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer has quietly threaded these stories into the fabric of popular culture since she first surfaced as a phenomenon out of her dorm bedroom. Following the success of her 2018 debut, Diary 001 EP, Clairo unveiled her 2019 full-length debut album, Immunity (FADER Label). The now 22-year-old received critical acclaim from the likes of Billboard, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, NME, NPR, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and many more. Beyond performing on TV shows like Jimmy Kimmel LIVE!, and most recently The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, she has notably sold out headline tours as well as joined the bills of Coachella and Lollapalooza. Her growing catalog includes the platinum-certified “Pretty Girl” and gold-certified “4Ever” and “Flaming Hot Cheetos,” in addition to “Are You Bored Yet?”—her platinum collaboration with Wallows. To date, she has amassed over 3 billion streams and counting. In 2021, she turns the page on the next chapter with her highly anticipated sophomore album, Sling—out everywhere now.

Clairo: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Youtube | Website

About Republic Records
A division of Universal Music Group, the world’s leading music company, Republic Records is home to an all-star roster of multi-platinum, award-winning legends and superstar artists such as Ariana Grande, Black Thought, Drake, Florence + the Machine, Greta Van Fleet, Hailee Steinfeld, Jack Johnson, James Blake, James Bay, Jessie J, John Mellencamp, Jonas Brothers, Julia Michaels, Kid Cudi, Lil Wayne, Lorde, Metro Boomin, NAV, Nicki Minaj, Of Monsters and Men, Pearl Jam, Post Malone, Seth MacFarlane, Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd and more. Founded by brothers and chief executives Monte and Avery Lipman, it is also comprised of innovative business ventures, including American Recordings, Boominati Worldwide, Brushfire, Casablanca Records, Cash Money, Lava Records, XO, Young Money, among others. Republic also maintains a long-standing strategic alliance with Universal Music Latin Entertainment (J Balvin and Karol G). In addition, Republic has expanded to release high-profile soundtracks for Universal Pictures (Fifty Shades of Grey), Sony Pictures (Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse) and NBC TV (The Voice), as well as other notable film and television franchises. Extending further into the worlds of film, television, and content, Republic launched Federal Films in order to produce movies and series powered by the label’s catalog and artists. Its first production was the Jonas Brothers documentary Chasing Happiness for Amazon Prime Video.

MÅNESKIN × IGGY POP — “I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE”

Leave a reply

“Måneskin gave me a big hot buzz.” —Iggy Pop

“It was such an honor that Iggy loved our music and wanted to work with us. It was touching seeing him sing ‘I Wanna Be Your Slave’ live in front of us, it was very powerful to see such a big artist being so open and friendly. We all grew up listening to his music and he inspired us to star up a band, it’s still unbelievable for us that we had the chance to get to know him and make music together.” —Måneskin

Today sees Måneskin announce an exciting new version of their global hit “I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE” with rock legend Iggy Pop – set to be released on this Friday, August 6, 2021. Victoria, Damiano, Thomas and Ethan are working with one of the most rebellious and iconic names in the history of rock music, who, with his band The Stooges, earned his place in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame and who recently received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. The original track of “I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE” is part of Måneskin’s most recent album “Teatro d’Ira Vol.1”. The official videoclip, which premiered worldwide on YouTube on July 15, notched over 22 million streams in a week.

This week also sees Måneskin hold the #1spot on Spotify’s Global Song Chart for an impressive fourth week in a row, and they have soared to #14 on the platform’s overall list of most streamed artists (back-to-back with Billie Eilish) with more than 51 million monthly listeners. The band has also been named as Billboard’s monthly “Chartbreakers” for August, as they continue to hold #1 on five different charts – including “Emerging Artists” to “Hot Hard Rock Songs” and more.

Coming up, Måneskin will be going on tour at the greatest Music Festivals across Europe, and have recently announced a landmark special concert that will be held on Saturday, July 9, 2022 at the historic Circo Massimo in Rome.

JENA ROSE LIFESIZE CHESS MUSIC VIDEO – CHECKMATE

Leave a reply

Cuban-American gen-Z artist Jena Rose hit a 5-week streak on MTV’s Friday Livestream with Kevan Kenney, joining a-list artists including Harry Styles and Zayn in the fan-voted Top 10 rankings. The larger-than-life music video, “Checkmate”, released via Gem Street Music and Sweety High, was inspired by “The Queen’s Gambit” and her lifelong fascination with chess. The pop track visually follows Jena as she takes the power back in a toxic relationship. Watch here.

Since releasing “Checkmate” in June, Rose has experienced tremendous momentum across social media and DSPs. By the numbers, “Checkmate” has generated 4.65M total views and streams, 450K monthly Spotify listeners and 70K new TikTok followers. Additionally, the “Checkmate” sound has been used in 8.3K videos.

The single kicks off an exciting new chapter for Jena Rose and prepares listeners for her forthcoming debut EP Baby, Maybe. The project is slated for release later this year and will feature collaborations with all-star co-writers/producers including Nick Furlong and John Feldmann (Blink 182, Panic! At The Disco).

Christened a “tour de force” by American Songwriter, Jena has toured with Aly & AJ, Echosmith and Why Don’t We, attended NYFW (dressed in Alice+Olivia, Anna Sui, Tom Ford, etc), and worked on brand partnerships with Tommy Hillfiger, FabFitFun and MAC.

About Jena Rose

Growing up with a father who immigrated from Cuba and a mom raised in Chicago, Jena was inspired by a wide array of musical influences from a very young age. Displaying a precocious talent early on, she started playing her own songs on tour with AJR, Echosmith and Why Don’t We when she was only 17-years-old. Trained as a multi-instrumentalist, singer and dancer, with over 1M social followers and 10M likes, she is an artist to watch in 2021. Gearing up for a slate of releases, fashion week, and her debut EP, Rose will be back on tour just as soon as the world allows.

About Gem Street Music

Gem Street Music, based in LA and Nashville, was created as a solution to a new music market that requires artists to drive continual growth across their digital platforms. Their core business, spanning from A&R and content production to growth and distribution, delivers the cultural scale essential to building real fan bases and driving positive ROI. Owning one of the largest Gen Z platforms and growth networks in the U.S. (Sweety High and Social Impact), they leverage their diverse audiences and employ innovative, collateralized strategies for both established stars and promising newcomers.

Rodney

Leave a reply

Rodney Ramlochan is an executive, entrepreneur, and global business generator who has dedicated his career to empowering others, identifying strategic relationships, and building world-class organizations. Driven by his passion for technology, fashion, lifestyle, and culture, he serves as 360 Magazine’s global business manager. Rodney builds market position for 360 by locating, developing, defining, and closing business relationships with leading brands.

Alongside his role at 360 Magazine, Rodney serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Dev-Byrne & Company, a national technology expense management firm serving premier clients ranging from global not-for-profits to Fortune 500 firms. He is a highly accomplished leader known for laser-like vision in formulating and executing cutting-edge strategies to achieve business goals.

Over the years, Rodney has held multiple roles within the business sector over the past two decades. As Vice-President and co-founder of an award-winning telecom auditing firm, he garnered an elite list of clients, taking the startup from obscurity to highly profitable in under three years. At Verizon, he oversaw large business units responsible for service delivery for enterprise clients.

Rodney completed both undergraduate and graduate degrees, with honors at New York University. He is a published contributing author who has written papers on service delivery and Total Quality Management. In addition, he has served on the Alumni Board Committee of New York University and the chairman of the board for St. Frances Cabrini Academy in Brooklyn, NY.

TROUSDALE — “THIS IS IT”

Leave a reply

Single Out Now via Independent, click HERE to Listen

“Trousdale blends elements of Americana with sleek pop” – CMT

Fast-rising indie-folk trio Trousdale have released the music video for their latest single, “This Is It,” which urges listeners to stop, take a breath and recognize happiness in the moment. You can click HERE to watch the Nina Kramer directed and produced video, and you can click HERE to check out CMT’s premiere of the video, where Trousdale discusses the motivation behind an all-female crew for the shoot.

Their desire to empower young women and spread a universal message of love and self-acceptance can be found rooted in both the message and the video for “This Is It.”

Capturing the friendship behind Trousdale, the music video “shows our goofy, fun-loving side. It is somewhat of the antithesis of our last EP, Look Around. We’ve previously released songs that focus on heartbreak and loss. Alternatively, this song was born out of a genuinely fun night drinking and laughing at our favorite bar. With the song and video, we aim to highlight the importance of savoring the simple joys in life, because they so often go unnoticed.”

The infectious optimism and enthusiasm of “This Is It” has resonated with both media and fans. Spotify and Apple championed the single with adds to multiple key playlists including Fresh Finds County, Next Gen Singer-Songwriters, and Country Risers while indie mainstay Consequence featured the friendship anthem in their weekly New Sounds round up and The Honey Pop proclaimed “‘This Is It’ is magical and we had to stan.”

Blending unflinching vocals and raw, transparent storytelling that mirrors their real-world vitality, Trousdale has developed a devoted and engaged community on TikTok and other corners of the internet with “This Is It” mirroring the success of their previous releases. Their fanbase, along with supporters like the Jonas Brothers, Dan and Shay, John Mayer, Jensen McRae and Betty Who, have propelled the trio’s self-produced single “Wouldn’t Come Back” to over 2 million streams and their cover of “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” by The Beach Boys to over 1 million streams.

Trousdale has garnered comparisons to Kacey Musgraves, The Chicks and HAIM, and prompted A1234 to compare their passionate lyrics and evocative storytelling to icons like Taylor Swift and her latest critically acclaimed albums Folklore and Evermore. Additionally, their singles “Better Off” and “Happy Anymore” along with “Wouldn’t Come Back” from their debut EP Look Around led to The Radar Station naming them the #1 Emerging Global Roots Artist and the #7 Emerging Global Artist, while landing on some of Apple Music and Spotify’s top Americana, Folk, Singer-Songwriter and Mood playlists including Roots Rising, Women of Folk, and Infinite Indie Folk.

LIL TECCA RELEASES SINGLE – MONEY ON ME

Leave a reply

Multiplatinum rapper Lil Tecca drops his new track “Money On Me” via Galactic Records/Republic Records.

Listen to “Money On Me” here.

Once again, he pulls up with rich wordplay highlighted by incisive bars and another head-nodding hook. As always, Tecca delivers nothing short of verbal excellence with a wealth of quotable lines.

It arrives on the heels of his last single “Never Left,” which has gathered over 93 million streams to date and serves as his ninth Hot 100 hit. Lyrical Lemonade hailed it as “an absolute banger in every sense of the word,” and Rap Radar raved, “Lil Tecca’s back like he’s ‘Never Left’.” The Musical Hype praised the flows as “compelling, energetic, and rhythmic,” while HotNewHipHop added it “proves that his melodic instincts are still sharp.”

Next up, he takes the stage at Lyrical Lemonade – Summer Smash August 20 and Rolling Loud – Los Angeles December 14-15.

Be on the lookout for more from Lil Tecca very soon.

Posting up over 3 billion streams and claiming multiple platinum certifications, Lil Tecca has quietly cemented himself as one of rap’s most vital rising superstars. In 2020, his full-length debut album, Virgo World, bowed in the Top 10 of the Billboard Top 200 and yielded two Hot 100 entries—namely “Dolly” with Lil Uzi Vert and “When You Down” feat. Lil Durk with Polo G. Thus far, the record has clocked over 300 million streams and counting. HotNewHipHop praised it as “a great starting point for the 18-year-old.” Tecca first exploded with his platinum-certified mixtape, We Love You Tecca, and his breakout quadruple-platinum single “Ransom” in 2019. He reeled in acclaim from New York Times, Billboard, HYPEBEAST, Complex, and many others in addition to selling out shows on his first headline run, the We Love You Tecca World Tour. He launches into his next chapter with lots of new music in 2021.

LIL TECCA RELEASES ANTICIPATED NEW TRACK “REPEAT IT” FEAT. GUNNA

NEW ALBUM WE LOVE YOU TECCA 2 COMING SOON

LISTEN HERE

Back with more heat, multiplatinum rapper Lil Tecca unleashes his new track “Repeat It” feat. Gunna today via Galactic Records/Republic Records.

Listen to “Repeat It”: HERE

Hyping anticipation for the official release, Tecca initially previewed the track on Instagram, and it impressively has generated over 1.5 million views. On the official version, he lights up a piano-driven beat with his nimbly spun wordplay. Meanwhile, multiplatinum superstar Gunna rolls through with his signature drip, igniting the production.

It follows up his anthemic “Money On Me,” which has already amassed over 5 million streams and counting. In addition to plugs from Revolt TV and more, HotNewHipHop observed, “Tecca floats as he sing-raps tales of paradise and the benefits of the lavish lifestyle.“

Everything just sets the stage for his anxiously awaited new album and one of the year’s most-anticipated sequels, We Love You Tecca 2, coming soon.

Watch Tecca repeat his dominance in 2021…

His single “Never Left” has gathered over 116 million streams to date and serves as his ninth Hot 100 hit. Lyrical Lemonade hailed it as “an absolute banger in every sense of the word,” and Rap Radar raved, “Lil Tecca’s back like he’s ‘Never Left’.” The Musical Hype praised the flows as “compelling, energetic, and rhythmic,“ while HotNewHipHop added it “proves that his melodic instincts are still sharp.“

Following a standout set at Rolling Loud – Miami, he takes the stage at Lyrical Lemonade – Summer Smash August 20 and Rolling Loud – Los Angeles December 14-15.

Posting up over 7 billion streams and claiming multiple platinum certifications, Lil Tecca has quietly cemented himself as one of rap’s most vital rising superstars. In 2020, his full-length debut album, Virgo World, bowed in the Top 10 of the Billboard Top 200 and yielded two Hot 100 entries—namely “Dolly” with Lil Uzi Vert and “When You Down” feat. Lil Durk with Polo G. Thus far, the record has clocked over 300 million streams and counting. HotNewHipHop praised it as “a great starting point for the 18-year-old.“ Tecca first exploded with his platinum-certified mixtape, We Love You Tecca, and his breakout quadruple-platinum single “Ransom” in 2019. He reeled in acclaim from New York Times, Billboard, HYPEBEAST, Complex, and many others in addition to selling out shows on his first headline run, the We Love You Tecca World Tour. He launches into his next chapter with lots of new music in 2021.

About Republic Records

A division of Universal Music Group, the world’s leading music company, Republic Records is home to an all-star roster of multi-platinum, award-winning legends and superstar artists such as Ariana Grande, Black Thought, Drake, Florence + the Machine, Greta Van Fleet, Hailee Steinfeld, Jack Johnson, James Blake, James Bay, Jessie J, John Mellencamp, Jonas Brothers, Julia Michaels, Kid Cudi, Lil Wayne, Lorde, Metro Boomin, NAV, Nicki Minaj, Of Monsters and Men, Pearl Jam, Post Malone, Seth MacFarlane, Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd and more. Founded by brothers and chief executives Monte and Avery Lipman, it is also comprised of innovative business ventures, including American Recordings, Boominati Worldwide, Brushfire, Casablanca Records, Cash Money, Lava Records, XO, Young Money, among others. Republic also maintains a long-standing strategic alliance with Universal Music Latin Entertainment (J Balvin and Karol G). In addition, Republic has expanded to release high-profile soundtracks for Universal Pictures (Fifty Shades of Grey), Sony Pictures (Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse) and NBC TV (The Voice), as well as other notable film and television franchises. Extending further into the worlds of film, television, and content, Republic launched Federal Films in order to produce movies and series powered by the label’s catalog and artists. Its first production was the Jonas Brothers documentary Chasing Happiness for Amazon Prime Video.

How Has 9/11 Changed America?

Leave a reply

September 11, 2001 will forever remain etched in the memories of Americans. Almost 3,000 innocent lives were lost during the deadly 9/11 terror attack. No one saw it coming until two planes hijacked by terrorists crashed into New York’s World Trade Center.

Terrorists aboard a third plane hovered around the Pentagon while the fourth crashed in Pennsylvania. And this was the beginning of significant changes in America’s history. Nearly everything changed in a bid to make America safe. Below are several things that changed after the terrorist attack.

Start Of War On Terror

The 9/11 terrorist attack on U.S. soil marked the beginning of America’s war on terror. Before then, American troops were home. But a month after the attack, American troops were deployed to Afghanistan. Their main objective was reining in al-Qaeda militia – an outlawed terror group – behind the terrorist attack in the U.S.

In an address to Congress nine days after the attack, declared a global war on terror.

“Our war on terror begins with al Qaeda, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped, and defeated,” Bush’s resolute stand read.

The U.S. troops sustained a long war in dismantling the Taliban government supporting al-Qaeda. It is the most protracted military campaign in the annals of U.S. history. And it didn’t end here. Military troops from the U.S. in 2003 invaded Iraq intending to dethrone Saddam Hussein. Hussein was the leader at the time and was producing weapons for the Taliban forces.

Twenty years later, about 8,000 US troops are still in Afghanistan, taming the Taliban insurgency.

Health Complications

Residents of lower Manhattan in New York reported increasing cases of Ground Zero respiratory diseases five months after the terror attack. Some of the 9/11 related illnesses came as a result of pulverization. When the World Trade Center collapsed, all materials in the building became fine dust spreading all over Manhattan.

The World Trade Center Health Program certifies that there are more cases of respiratory diseases since the attack in the area. Further, other ailments certified by the program include asthma, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, cancer, depression, rhinosinusitis, and sleep apnea.

Onset Of Deportations

The Department of Homeland Security didn’t exist before September 11, 2001. President Bush formed it in 2002, working closely with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Deportations rose exponentially during Barack Obama’s administration, having the highest numbers. Between 2009 and 2010, nearly 400,000 people were deported.

Between 1999 and 2001, there were at least 200,000 annual deportations. But they doubled after the 9/11 terror attack.

Airport Security More Elaborate

In 2001, you would wander around the airport in the U.S. without much fuss. Today, you need a ticket to do this. And proper scrutiny of your passenger I.D. is undertaken before boarding a flight. A thorough body check happens today, and you must remove your shoes and your belt. Back then, none of this happened. Security is now elaborate – nothing is ignored. Not even the vaguest intelligence report.

Anti-Muslim Bias

Between 2015 and 2016, FBI data indicates 91 cases of assault stemming from anti-Muslim bias. In contrast to 2001, after the 9/11 attack, this number grew. Americans perceive Islam as a religion advocating for war. Religious discrimination is still a thing in America. The profiling of Muslims continues amid efforts to change the narrative that they are peace-loving.

The aftermath of the 9/11 terror attack in the U.S. in 2001 has a good and an ugly side. In terms of safety, it is a plus for the people. More elaborate security systems are in place today. But America is still in the war two decades later; this is a sad reminder of the aftereffect of the most significant terror attack in the land.

HARD ROCK TRIO THE WARNING NEW SINGLE – EVOLVE

Leave a reply

As they continue racking up fans, followers, and acclaim from the media and music icons alike, the Monterrey Mexico hard rock sister trio The Warning have emerged to unveil “EVOLVE,” their new single released via LAVA/Republic Records.

“We wrote ‘EVOLVE’ about humanity’s dangerous obsession with evolving,” the band said. “And how sometimes that evolution leads us to slowly leave our humanity behind. Is this dehumanizing evolution right or wrong?”

Produced by the legendary David Beneath (Paramore, Bring Me The Horizon, Breaking Benjamin), “Evolve” is a musical journey led by Daniela Daniela “Dany” [guitar, lead vocals, piano], Paulina “Pau” [drums, vocals, piano], and Alejandra “Ale” Villarreal [bass, piano, backing vocals]. Dany’s vocals simmer with intensity, building tension before exploding into a chorus that unleashes the full force of the energy the sisters bring to every performance. With its signature changes and transformational truth-telling, “EVOLVE” is a track that will keep listeners on the edge of their seats throughout the entire sonic ride. The video, recorded with 16 iPhones and a drone, is a dangerous, fast-paced trip that visually amplifies the anxiety of “EVOLVE” in stunning fashion.

“EVOLVE” comes hot on the heels of the release of their Lava Records debut single, “CHOKE,” for which the band took part in a streamed event/interview with legendary rock tastemaker Matt Pinfield. “CHOKE” cracked over a million streams right out of the gate, drawing acclaim from Loudwire, Rolling Stone Mexico, and Billboard Argentina. Adding to the praise, Pau was called out by the band’s musical peers Olivia Rodrigo and WILLOW for her stunning drum covers of their songs “brutal” and “t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l” on TikTok.

Coming soon: the band has been tapped by Metallica for a cover of “Enter Sandman,” the track that first sent the trio into viral music stardom. The single will be featured on The Metallica Blacklist album, the 30-year anniversary reissue of Metallica’s iconic self-titled 5th album, also known as The Black Album. The reissue is set for release on September 10. In addition, fans will be able to catch The Warning on the road as they perform at the Welcome To Rockville Festival, open for the Foo Fighters in front of a 60,000-person crowd at Mexico City’s Foro Sol, and at a two-night sold-out run at the Troubadour in January 2022.

Stay tuned for more music and news to come as The Warning continues to surge to the forefront of hard rock!

Follow The Warning

The Warning Band Website // Instagram // TikTok // YouTube // Facebook

About The Warning

The Warning infuse rock music with a much-needed shot of adrenaline. The Monterrey, Mexico trio of sisters—Daniela “Dany” [guitar, lead vocals, piano], Paulina “Pau” [drums, vocals, piano], and Alejandra “Ale” Villarreal [bass, piano, backing vocals]—charge forward with head-spinning riffs, unpredictable rhythms, stadium-size beats, and skyscraping vocals. They stand out as the rare presence equally at home on network television and on stage at Heaven & Hell Festival. If anybody can usher rock’s comeback along, it’s these three ladies. After exploding online with one viral moment after another, The Warning parlayed this momentum into a series of independent releases, including Escape the Mind EP [2015], XXI Century Blood [2017], and Queen of the Murder Scene [2019]. They graced a stacked bill at Mother of All Rock Festival as the only Mexican band and opened up two sold out Monterrey shows for The Killers and for Def Leppard in Mexico City and Guadalajara. After quietly amassing over 120 million YouTube views and 10 million streams, they surge to the forefront of hard rock with a series of new music being released on LAVA Records in 2021.

About Republic Records

Rarin Q×A – Toxic Ends

Leave a reply

By: Ally Brewster

Fast-rising artist Rarin has released his liberating, pop-rap debut mixtape Toxic Ends. An aspirational, ambition-fueled introduction which champions human connection and self-growth, inspiring listeners to be themselves free of insecurity, Toxic Ends unites Rarin’s recent string of hard-hitting singles and adds six new tracks to his prolific catalogue.

Originally recording music for fun and continuing to create in his bedroom despite his success, Rarin has racked up over 75 million global streams with his string of viral singles including “GTA” and “YESSIR!” which topped Spotify’s viral charts and trended on YouTube. Adding to his hot streak, and distilling rap, pop, and relatable storytelling into his own unique sound, Toxic Ends will follow his recently released singles: deceptive flex anthems that speak to what is achievable in life if you free yourself from insecurity. “Toxics Ends” imagines what life would be like if we let go of the negative thoughts that hold us back, while Rarin “levels up” to become the most polished version of himself on “Big Spendin’,” a version without heartbreak or self-consciousness, that is excited for the future. “SO WHAT! ft. Brxkenbxy” speaks to brushing off minor issues to find value in mistakes without letting them derail you from seizing big opportunities.

“I think we’re all destined for something greater than our expectations. We just have to let go of what’s holding us back,” says Rarin on the inspiration for the mixtape. “This project is mainly about letting go of our ‘toxic ends.’ People are tempted to commit themselves to things they cannot obtain, especially in relationships, leading their emotions to consume them. Just because you want something, doesn’t mean you need it.”

We had the opportunity to ask Rarin about his career, Toxic Ends, and what’s next for the artist:

How did you get your start into music? When did you know if it was something you wanted to pursue?

I originally got into music because of my parents. They had me learn to play the piano because they wanted me to try out new things when I was younger. I think that really gave me an ear for making music and it helped a lot. Singing and rapping came many years later and that really started out of boredom. Later, with time, I found myself enjoying recording music more and more and eventually I recognized music as something I wanted to pursue professionally.

Who were your biggest inspirations for going into the music industry? How has their careers inspired/impacted your own decisions and direction for your music?

My biggest inspirations are Lil Peep, Travis Scott, and Billie Eilish. The career of Lil Peep has made me see how important fan interaction is, and how being close with your fans can bring a really special connection. I also love Travis Scott’s live performances and seeing him perform made me realize that your fans and listeners will reflect your energy, so you need to show your enthusiasm in everything you do. Billie Eilish inspires me to go out of my comfort zone and to be more confident. In one interview she had said that you should embrace your mistakes in your music and keep them because that’s what makes it unique. That saying has stuck with me for the entirety of my career and has really given me motivation.

How does your new work compare to your other works you’ve done in the past in terms of process, production and message? Do you notice differences in creating singles versus mixtapes?

Overall, the production has gotten much better, but I also have more purpose when I record and write music. Currently, I tend to make faster and happier songs compared to my past music.

What was it like when you realized that your work was connecting with people? Was there a specific moment you remember realizing how your music impacted others?

It was honestly very motivating. I’ve had fans tell me that my music has helped them stay mentally strong in their hardest times, and that really means the world to me. I use music to help myself feel better so being able to provide that for others makes me really happy.

Were you surprised that your work became popular in gaming communities? What has that experience been like as you watched you work be appreciated by many different communities?

I never really expected my songs to blow up through video games. I used to edit gaming montages so it’s crazy to me that my music is being used in videos similar to what I used to edit.

Toxic Ends is a mixtape with “deceptive flex anthems that speak to what is achievable in life if you free yourself from insecurity.” What inspired you to make a mixtape that is vulnerable and honest about overcoming insecurity? Is there anything you hope fans take away from the mixtape?

My life inspires my music and, in my life, I’ve found myself unable to rid myself of toxic relationships and situations because I thought those situations were normal and that I didn’t deserve better. After listening, I hope my fans recognize the importance of loving yourself and what you do. I think it is the key to being successful and happy in life and I wish that upon everyone.

What are you most excited for next once your new mixtape is out?

I’m most excited to start doing live shows and possibly touring.

Toxic Ends Track List

Toxic Ends

Love Fix

Ashes

Had Enough

SO WHAT! (ft. Brxkenbxy)

Skipping Stones

Cash Out (ft. Darius King)

2 Seater

Big Spendin’

See Rarin’s mixtape music videos below:

Toxic Ends album visualizer here.

“Toxic Ends” music video here.

“Big Spendin’” music video here.

Check out Rarin’s debut mix, and keep a look out for what’s next!

Innovating Wildfire Insurance

Leave a reply

The Innovative Finance for National Forests grant program, supports partner organizations developing out of the box financial solutions to some of forest management’s most vexing challenges. One partner, The Nature Conservancy, focused on using insurance premium reductions to incentivize forest conservation.

Property insurance premiums for communities, businesses, and homeowners are based on numerous factors and inputs of actuarial science. Some of those inputs include the quantity and history of claims in an area, the location itself, property value. Global warming? While not directly, studies have linked climate change to another risk factor considered in calculating property insurance premiums: wildfire.

Trends in wildfire activity show that fires are growing bigger and more intense across the western United States, destroying more structures with increasing associated costs. In 2020 there were 58,950 wildfires, affecting 10.1 million acres, in contrast to 18,229 wildfires and 1.3 million acres affected in 1983. The ever-growing risk to companies, communities and private landowners has drastically increased insurance premiums for properties at risk of wildfire, and it is expected that those premiums will only continue to rise, making insurance policies unaffordable for many.

But that doesn’t necessarily need to be the case. Recently, The Nature Conservancy, supported by an Innovative Finance for National Forests grant from the USDA Forest Service, the National Forest Foundation, and U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, focused its efforts on proving that ecological forest management could lower insurance premiums.

“Forested lands in the west and adjacent communities are at risk of increasingly severe wildfires,” said Dave Jones, senior director of environmental risk at The Nature Conservancy and prior Insurance Commissioner for the state of California. “Wildfires are taking more lives, causing more injuries, destroying more homes and other structures, and at the same time, insurers are declining to write insurance policies for those facing substantial wildfire risk.”

State and federal land agencies and conservation organizations such as The Nature Conservancy already employ proven methods of ecological forestry management practices – such as prescribed burning and forest thinning – to reduce the risk of severe wildfires. These treatments increase forest health and productivity while also reducing the amount of organic material or “fuel” available to burn.

Private property and asset owners, including businesses, public agencies, and communities, also stand to benefit from those same practices. This led The Nature Conservancy to develop an innovative financial solution that would both serve to mitigate severe wildfire risk, thereby lowering insurance premiums.

The project, at its foundation, explored how creating more wildfire-resistant landscapes through ecological management could translate into lower insurance premiums for policyholders.

“The Wildfire Resilience Insurance project demonstrated that this reduction in risk and loss can be modeled by insurers,” said Jones, “With the reduction in expected losses due to severe wildfires, the amount of premium which is needed to be collected by insurers to cover those losses declines as well.”

The Nature Conservancy used its French Meadows Forest Restoration Project, a 28,000-acre ecological forestry project in the Tahoe National Forest in Placer County, California, as a test case for the insurance study.

Partnering with global insurance and risk advisory firm Willis Towers Watson, current insurance models were modified to account for ecological forest management.

The study found that there were reductions in premiums for various types of commercial and residential insurance. For example, The Nature Conservancy and Willis found that 81,000 homes would see a total annual premium savings of 41% or $21 million a year.

The Nature Conservancy also explored how those same insurance savings can be captured and used to fund forest treatment. In most cases, insurance premium savings were sufficient to fund additional ecological forest management projects, leading to further savings and an even more resilient landscape.

What’s more, Jones said the approach is scalable and can be implemented in other states where forests are subject to similar fire behavior as the forests of the Sierra Nevada.

“The approach is applicable wherever there are landscapes at risk of wildfire and where ecological forest treatments can reduce those risks,” said Jones. “Now that we have demonstrated, for the first time, that insurance modeling can take into account the risk reduction benefit of ecological forest treatment, we expect insurers to begin to take up the results of the Wildfire Resilience Insurance project in their own modeling and pricing of wildfire risk.”

Click here for more information on the Wildfire Resiliency Insurance project. To learn more about the Innovation Finance for National Forest grant program and how to apply, visit the National Forest Foundation.