Posts made in April 2022

Shanghai Navigates COVID Lockdown

Leave a reply

On March 28, the urbanist city in China of Shanghai began to lockdown. As of now, all people continue to be quarantined at home, with schools and businesses closed.

During the extended quarantine of Shanghai, the number of infections has continued to climb. A few things about the gravity of the lockdown are worth noting.

First is the treatment of positive patients. In most countries, people with mild infections only need to be quarantined at home to wait for self-recovery. China differs from often countries as they have adopted centralized quarantine, which includes quarantine of close contacts.

After the outbreak, countless shelter hospitals were built in Shanghai, with some schools, office buildings, and stadiums were requisitioned to build shelter hospitals. Because the speed of construction could not keep up with the spread of the virus, many covid positive patients waited at home for more than a week for treatment and were later sent to shelter hospitals even after testing negative. Many patients even spend whole days in transfer cars because all the shelter hospitals are full.

The conditions of shelter hospitals are also very diverse. Some places have sufficient food supply, and the environment is very hygienic. However, the sanitary conditions of some hospitals are shocking. Hundreds of people share one restroom, and in severe cases, toilets may even be filled with excrement.

Next, it is important to dicsuss the lack of food, specifically outage of all packages and restaurant delivery. The government issued a statement on March 28th, which entailed the Pudong district being locked down from March 28th to April 1st. Remaining areas would be locked down from April 1st to April 5th. Many people stored food for four days as directed by the government, but Shanghai’s lockdown was not lifted by the fourth day.

The government distributes food and daily necessities to residents, but the food everyone received could not sustain a month-long confinement. Some open supermarkets began taking orders in the morning hours, but a community with tens of thousands of people can only take hundreds of orders, leaving most citizens with no way to order food.

As a result, some people spontaneously initiated group purchases, with a resident of the community as the leader, negotiating with food suppliers, and then ordering the food needed by the entire community, and then distributing them by themselves. In communities with few households, everyone can only rely on supermarket deliveries.

Lastly, non-COVID-19 patients have not been receiving adequate treatment. During the quarantine period, all citizens were unable to leave their homes, which led to the difficulty of seeing a doctor for patients with underlying diseases. There are many patients who need hemodialysis, chemotherapy, and surgery that cannot be treated in time.

For emergency patients, it is even more difficult, because hospitals need Covid PCR test reports within 24 hours before they can accept patients. There are some acutely ill patients, such as myocardial infarction, renal failure, etc., who died at the hospital gate because they were waiting for the PCR test report.

As April 21, Shanghai had been closed for 24 days, with the number of infected people beginning to slowly decline on April 17. The government declared that “Zero-Covid policy” must be implemented. It remains to be seen where Shanghai will go in the future.

Article by: Hannah Zhong

Shanghai during COVID-19 lockdown via Hannah Zhong for use by 360 Magazine

Latin American Music Awards

Leave a reply

Warner Music artists took the stage at the prestigious Latin American Music Awards 2022. The ceremony was broadcast live from the Michelob ULTRA Arena at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on the Telemundo Network.

The energy of the numerous dazzling performances by Warner Music artists, including Jesse & Joy, Lit Killah, Maria Becerra, Sofia Reyes, and Tiago PZK, was felt by attendees and their colleagues in the audience. As the opening act of the ceremony, several artists joined forces in solidarity with Ukraine along with artist NK and Black Eyed Peas performing their song “Where Is The Love,” in which Warner Music artists Lit Killah, Sofia Reyes and Tiago PZK were part of.

Among the stellar musical performances by Warner Music artists was Jesse & Joy’s captivating performance of their hit song “Respirar,” which will be part of their upcoming album “Clichés,” which will be available on May 6th. The duo delighted the Latin American Music Awards audience on a stage surrounded by flowers.

Mexican artist, Sofia Reyes, followed with an electrifying performance alongside Los Angeles Azules and Esteman of their song “Esa Parte De Mi,” making it the first live performance of the track. During the night, Sofia Reyes also presented the “Best Regional Mexican Song” category along with Panamanian artist, Akim. This comes after the huge success of her song “Marte” with Maria Becerra, which reached the #1 spot on Spotify in Argentina.

Later in the gala’s big night, emerging artists leading the new wave of urban artists coming out of Argentina, Tiago PZK, Lit Killah, and Maria Becerra, took the stage with a magical and mesmerizing performance of Tiago PZK’s hit single, “Entre Nosotros Remix,” causing an immense amount of excitement among the audience. All this success follows Tiago PZK’s recent single release “Hablando de Love” and Lit Killah’s hit collaboration “KU” alongside De La Ghetto and L-Gante.

Maria Becerra, the Argentinean artist who continues her global domination, also took home the “New Artist of the Year” award, in addition to her three performances during the night.

Also, among Warner Music’s winners of the night were superstars Anitta and Myke Towers. Anitta took home an award in the “Favorite Video” category for her global hit “Girl From Rio” and Myke Towers won in the “Favorite Pop Song” category for “Para del Año” with Sebastian Yatra.

Once again Warner Music has positioned itself as one of the most renowned record labels at a global level.

Autumn! – Everything!

Leave a reply

Back with another insane visual, buzzing Louisiana-born and Houston-based rapper and producer Autumn! presents the frenetic music video for his next single “Everything!.” It sets the stage for the track’s arrival at all digital platforms this Monday, April 25 via Victor Victor/Republic Records.

Watch “Everything!” HERE

The clip unleashes a barrage of explosive vignettes. Against static-y filters, Autumn! rips through the hyper-charged production with a magnetically melodic flow. The clip jarringly jumps from psychedelic moments into digital chaos. It perfectly mirrors the track’s push-and-pull.

It also bulldozes a path for the release of his anxiously awaited new mixtape Antagonist! on April 29. Pre-order/pre-save HERE.

He set the stage for the project with “One Way!“, “Bentley Bentayga!“, and, most recently, “Jumpin!” The tracks have already generated tens of millions of streams and counting. “Jumpin!” incited critical applause immediately. Lyrical Lemonade raved, “His personality is always showstopping, while his flows are very intricate and unique, and that is no different in his song ‘Jumpin!’,” and Our Generation Music christened him, “definitely one of the most versatile artists rising out of this new scene.”

To celebrate the arrival of the mixtape, he’ll take over Gramercy Theater in New York City on May 1 for the Antagonist! Release Show: tickets are available HERE. He’s also on the bill for Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash in Chicago, IL on June 17.Autumn! alchemizes otherworldly sonic architecture and emotionally charged melodies, stretching the boundaries of hip-hop in the process. Originally hailing from Louisiana, he initially bubbled up as a producer under the name of TwinUzis, deftly manipulating synths and bass into a fascinating sonic framework of his own. Establishing himself as an artist, he unleashed music on Soundcloud at a prolific pace with the Solitary EP, Golden Child, Chapter 1, Not Much Longer EP, and Not Much Left EP in 2021. “Nina!” generated 2.44 million Soundcloud streams, while “Still The Same (Remix)” feat. Lil Tecca popped off to the tune of 3 million Soundcloud streams. Signing to Victor Victor in 2021, it’s about to be Autumn! season as he readies more music soon.

Brett Kissel × 98° – Ain’t the Same

Leave a reply

Fans of country and pop music alike are in luck: platinum-selling country artist Brett Kissel has released a new single in collaboration with pop and R&B vocal group 98°, titled “Ain’t the Same.” The track is available on all streaming platforms. Listen HERE.

The upbeat song tells the story of a narrator professing his feelings to the love of his life, explaining that life “ain’t the same” without her. The track also features a clever chorus that parallels the narrator’s relationship and famous pairings that just aren’t quite right when not together. With vivid lyrics such as “the beach ain’t the same without the sun / Coke ain’t the same without the rum / Vegas needs them neon lights / tequila needs that lime,” the song puts a fresh, lighthearted spin on the concept of finding one’s perfect match.

Kissel felt inspired to write the song for his wife, Cecilia, alongside co-writers Karen Kosowski and Tim Nichols. He explained, “We kept landing on how much sweeter everything is when we get to experience life’s gifts with the people we cherish most… and, how things just ‘Ain’t the Same’ if you’re missing the key ingredient. For me, that’s my wife Cecilia, who was the inspiration for the song.”

“Ain’t the Same” also offers a unique blend of pop and modern country. The single highlights Kissel’s warm, rich vocals and ability to express emotions with his music. Kissel’s voice, paired with the infectious harmonies of 98°, works together to convey the joy of spending life with that particular person.

Kissel described his excitement for working with the group, explaining, “98° is such an iconic group, and the fact that they are making their first foray into the country music space with me is such an honor. They’ve collaborated and had massive hits with legends like Mariah Carey and Stevie Wonder, so to work with them on this project and have a blast with them in-studio and on our video shoot in LA… it’s the coolest thing.”

About 98°

98° has sold over 10 million records worldwide and achieved eight top 40 singles in the U.S. From the late 90s to the early ‘00s, the group reached top-five on the Billboard Hot 100 with the songs “Give Me Just One Night (Una Noche),” “Because of You,” “The Hardest Thing” and collaborated with the great Stevie Wonder on the hit “Thank God I Found You” (with Mariah Carey and Joe) as featured artists. “Ain’t The Same” marks 98°‘s first foray into Country Music and comes on the heels of their 25th career Anniversary Year.

About Brett Kissel

Kissel has previously received recognition for other powerhouse collaborations, releasing a DND remix of his Platinum-certified single “She Drives Me Crazy” with multi-platinum selling superstar Nelly. His charismatic personality, energetic stage presence and music style have propelled him to the top of the Canadian Country music charts, with two Gold-certified albums, three Platinum (including the album version of “She Drives Me Crazy”), eight Gold singles and 15 top-10 radio hits to his credit. 2019-2020 was a storybook year for Brett, winning the JUNO Award (equivalent to the American Grammy) for Country Album of the Year and earning the Canadian Country Music Association’s Fans’ Choice Award, following a record-breaking 112-date tour that reached every single province and territory. In 2019, he completed two legs of his headlining tour, marked as Canada’s most extensive tour ever, selling out venues and electrifying fans from coast to coast. The Canadian press crowned him “The New King of Canadian Country.” The accolades continued in 2020, when Brett was the big winner of the CCMA Awards, earning four trophies, including Fans’ Choice, Male Artist of the Year, and Album of the Year.Kissel launched in the U.S. in the Fall of 2019 with the release of “Drink About Me.” The music video for the song featured Bachelor Nation fan favorites Kaitlyn Bristowe and Jason Tartick. View HERE. The video premiered on Entertainment Tonight and garnered attention from PEOPLE Magazine, OK! Magazine, Bustle, E! News and many more outlets. The music video received significant airplay on CMT Music, and since its release, it has garnered over 40 million streams in the US and Canada combined. As one of the top acts on the Canadian Country music scene, Brett Kissel is on the brink of becoming a household name across the United States. Having toured with Garth Brooks and Brad Paisley, the young entertainer is no stranger to the stage. Kissel is currently in the studio finishing up his upcoming album, due out later in 2022.

Tennessee Tourism × Earth Day

Leave a reply

Known for its natural beauty, unique culture and southern hospitality, Tennessee strives to be at the forefront of sustainability efforts to preserve its wonder and charm for future generations to come. In honor of Earth Day, Tennessee Tourism created a roundup of clean, green and sustainable ways to eat, explore, lodge and travel across the state. Find Tennessee Tourism on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

A More Sustainable Tennessee

The Solar Farm Welcome Center: The Solar Farm Welcome Center is surrounded by a 25-acre, five-megawatt solar farm, overseen by the University of Tennessee. The center features a circular interactive spectrum exhibit bringing solar power to life for visitors. Here you can learn how solar energy really works, how the sun is keeping the lights on, and the innovations and opportunities solar power brings to Tennesseans.

Tennessee Sustainable Spirits: Tennessee is home to world-class whiskey, wine, beer and fine spirits. Tennessee Sustainable Spirits is a voluntary recognition and technical assistance program by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation which seeks to reduce operational costs and environmental impacts for wineries and wine-growers, breweries and distilleries as well as serve as a gateway to sustainability through popular brands.

Tennessee Sustainable Hospitality: Along with generating economic activity, Tennessee’s hospitality industry has an environmental impact on the state through resource usage and waste generation. Tennessee Sustainable Hospitality and TDEC provide a sustainability roadmap for businesses to follow which includes tips for energy and water conservation, recycling and waste reduction, food waste reduction, communication, education and greening the supply chain.

Keep Tennessee Beautiful: Keep Tennessee Beautiful is the state-level affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, and serves as a state resource for litter prevention, community greening, and recycling and water education. They are also partners with TDOT’s Nobody Trashes Tennessee, the state of Tennessee’s official litter prevention campaign.

Chattanooga Airport: The Chattanooga Airport became the first and only U.S. airport powered by sustainable solar energy with a 2.74-megawatt solar farm consisting of over 9,000 solar panels and battery storage technology that allows the system to run off the grid. Additionally, it has LEED-certified facilities, and the world’s first LEED Platinum Certified aviation terminal.

Celebrate Earth Day with These Statewide Events

EarthDayz at Rock City: Join Rock City Gardens in Chattanooga this April for EarthDayz, a naturally fun outdoor Earth Day celebration. Be mesmerized when vines and trees come to life with methodical movement, hear live percussionists and go on a virtual scavenger hunt while enjoying the great outdoors.

Museum of Science & History’s Annual Plant Sale: This Earth Day weekend the Museum of Science & History (MoSH) in Memphis will host its annual Volunteer Plant Sale on April 22 and 23, 2022 at the Lichterman Nature Center. During the celebration guests can explore the 65-acre nature center and arboretum that is home to lush gardens, wildlife exhibits, and trails through lake, meadow and forest habitats.

Ijams Nature Center’s Sustainable Fashion Event: On Sunday, April 24, the Ijams Nature Center and Natural Alternatives Salon and Spa in Knoxville will present Fleurish: A Sustainable Fashion Event. It will include 12 local designers, along with hair stylists and makeup artists, who will create looks using both recycled and natural materials.

Seed Lending Library at Stokes Brown Library: Dig in the Dirt! Check out free seeds to plant a garden through the Seed Lending Library at Stokes Brown Public Library in Springfield and while you’re there, check out some fun Earth Day reading for all ages, whether children-friendly Earth Day crafts, juvenile and family gardening, or adult sustainable living skills. Try your hand at a window-seal herb garden, porch container garden, raised beds or inground garden and discover your green thumb.

Earth Day at Wolf Gap: Celebrate Earth Day at Wolf Gap in Pulaski by getting on in nature with a Native Plant Walk, observe and assist with freshwater testing, get crafty and make native wildflower seed bombs. There will also be a special Earth Day scavenger hunt, Tenn Pin Alley’s food truck and more.

Where to Stay

David Crockett State Park Cabins: The David Crockett State Park Cabins in Lawrenceburg are the perfect, family weekend getaway. Equipped with geothermal-powered HVAC units and gas fireplaces, these LEED-certified vacation homes are ahead of the curve on energy conservation. The state park also has the Tennessee Naturalist Program which serves as an educational training program to provide service and outreach efforts to help preserve Tennessee’s natural beauty and resources.

The Greenbrier Beechhouse: Enjoy unique, earth-friendly lodging at the luxury treehouse rental in Greenbrier which features tongue-and-groove pine ceilings, a spacious deck, swing bridge, fresh eggs and much more. Visit the magic and check availability HERE.

The Crash Pad: Located in Chattanooga, this eco-friendly, LEED-certified glamping spot is unlike any other. Offering 24 bunk beds or five private rooms, complimentary DIY breakfast and walking distance to some of the area’s best restaurants and bars, this classic yet charming hostel provides visitors with a blend of reclaimed and renewable resources to ensure the best of energy efficiency while supporting local sustainable businesses.

Where to Eat & Drink

The Polk County Tramp Festival: The 64^th annual Ramp Tramp Festival in Reliance will take place April 22-23 with two days of live music, crafts and traditional Ramp Meals which includes ramps in eggs, white beans, cornbread, fried potatoes and streaked meat bacon.

Lupi’s Pizza Pies: Lupi’s Pizza Pies in Chattanooga makes their pizzas and salads from local ingredients purchases from local farms and vendors in the community, or from their own Flying Turtle Farm. In addition to producing most of their own meats, vegetables and flowers. Lupi’s recycles everything possible from glass and plastic to trimmings and food waste from the kitchen to feed the pigs at the farm.

The Farm House: The Farm House in Nashville is an innovative farm-to-table restaurant located in downtown Nashville. Prepare your taste buds for Chef/Owner Trey Cioccia‘s ever-changing seasonal menu. This spring enjoy delicious dishes ranging from trout to southern carbonara, bone-in porkchop and much more.

Get Outside

Memphis Riverfront Park’s Arbor Day Tree Planting and Pollinator Party: On April 29, head to Mud Island to volunteer in planting replacement trees along the river at its Arbor Day Tree Planting. Stick around the next day to participate in the Pollinator Workshop Garden party at Beale Street Landing to learn more about local pollinators.

Springfield Greenway: Springfield Greenway is a scenic 4-mile paved trail that meanders along the historic and business districts, we well as tree-lined Sulfur Creek and public playgrounds. The flat and wide terrain accommodates walkers, runners and bike riders. This greenway has been honored with a 4-star Award, the highest award granted from the Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association

Gatlinburg Skylift Park: Take in Tennessee’s stunning beauty at Gatlinburg Skylift Park’s launch of its special VIP Sunrise Access event. Here, ticket holders will be granted early access to the park to see the sunrise over the stunning Smoky Mountains.

Mirimichi Lakes Golf: Bring your “A-game” this Earth Day at Mirimichi Lakes Golf in Millington. This award-winning course of more than 7,400 yards provides its visitors with an eco-friendly experience. From integrated pest management and water conservation, Mirimichi offers championship-worthy views and environmentally friendly practices for both amateur and professional level players.

Immerse Yourself

Cheekwood Estate and Garden: Cheekwood Estate and Gardens in Nashville serves the public as a botanical garden, arboretum and art museum with an extraordinary historic 1930s estate, 55 acres of cultivated grounds and expansive vistas, 12 distinct gardens and a 1.5-mile-long woodland trail. Visitors are invited to come and celebrate Earth Day by enjoying this year’s Martin Shallenberger Artist-in-Residence, a free 30-minute audio tour of the 1.5-mile-long Ann & Monroe Carell Jr. Family Sculpture Trail, pick up an arboretum map to learn about the 120+ distinct species that live on the property, experience the Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden and partake in Cheekwood’s Wellness 360 which is an initiative in partnership with Vanderbilt Health that encourages visitors to take advantage of Cheekwood’s 55-acres of breathing room to rejuvenate the mind, body and spirit.

Hatchie BirdFest: Head to Brownville to partake in 3-days of bird watching and escape to the great outdoors at the ninth annual Hatchie Birdfest (April 22-24). The event will offer a variety of activities for all ages and skill levels, including nature hikes, educational seminars, a canoe trip down Oneal Lake and much more.

Spring Garden Fair: The Spring Garden Fair in Kingsport is a true celebration of heritage farming and heirloom gardening. From April 30-May 1, come and experience the oldest garden fair in the region where attendees can hear from master gardeners, buy from a wide selection of heritage and native perennials, annuals, trees and shrubs.

The Art Project: Keep the sustainable, family-friendly fun going in Memphis at The Art Project, a studio where kids dive into their craft skills and get creative with a wide array of supplies and recycled materials for their very own DIY piece of art.

The Homestead Festival: The Homestead Festival takes place June 3-4 at a 100-acre historic farm in Columbia and will feature a variety of entry-level homesteading activities, talks and demonstrations during the day and then musical performances on the main stage at sunset. The festival was created for those interested in getting started in homesteading or living more sustainably by teaching them the skills of food preservation, raising chickens, making soap, homeschooling and more.

Isaac Dunbar – Fool’s Paradise

Leave a reply

Isaac Dunbar released his latest single, “Fool’s Paradise,” out now via RCA Records. Written and produced by Isaac, the emotive, piano-driven ballad examines the complexities of unrequited love. Propelled by Isaac’s melodic vocals, “Fool’s Paradise” is an operatic exploration of disillusionment and what happens when one no longer ignores the red flags waving in front of them.

“I wrote ‘Fool’s Paradise’ about my struggle between discerning what is real and what is fake with the relationships in my life,” says Isaac. “It’s about the process of waking up to mistreatment, manipulation and reading in between the lines. It’s about breaking those cycles. ‘Fool’s Paradise’ is a song for the delusional girls.”

Joining the previously released rebellious pop-anthem “Bleach” and the disco-infused “Tainted Love,” “Fool’s Paradise” serves as the latest release off Isaac’s highly anticipated forthcoming EP, Banish The Banshee. A series of sonic parables inspired by love, loss, shame, and joy, Banish The Banshee is a conceptual body of work that illustrates the stories of Isaac’s life so far through the lens of his alter-ego, the banshee.

Banish The Banshee is out May 27 via RCA Records, pre-order it HERE.

About Isaac Dunbar

19-year-old Isaac Dunbar has carved out a spectacular and unique lane as one of the most critically heralded emerging artists of his generation. After supporting girl in red on her North American and European run of shows in 2019, he released his highly anticipated debut EP, balloons don’t float here. It garnered the attention of notable tastemakers like Zane Lowe, The FADER, Hypebeast and Lyrical Lemonade, who called it “a display of pop mastery.” Hailing from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, his music melds complex sounds and atmospheric, beat-driven production to create melodic and introspective tracks with potent hooks. He makes lush, synth-driven music, which he writes, performs and produces himself.

In 2020, with his newly inked deal with RCA Records, he released his critically acclaimed EP, isaac’s insects, which garnered over 48 million streams worldwide. Billboard called it a “stunning major label debut” and led his track “makeup drawer” to be featured in NPR‘s “Best Music of 2020” list. His third EP, evil twin, was released at the top of 2021 and saw support from the likes of Earmilk, who declared it a “defiant pop record,” along with features in PAPER Magazine, SPIN, American Songwriter, E! News and more, while amassing over 38 million streams worldwide. Last fall, Dunbar hit the road on his first-ever North American headlining tour, which included a sold-out show in New York and a performance at the All Things Go Festival in Washington, DC. With new music to come in 2022, Dunbar’s future shines brighter than ever before.

Batch × Bottle

Leave a reply

Nothing signifies a night out quite like the experience of a perfect cocktail made by an expert bartender surrounded by close friends. Yet, when entertaining at home, many hosts opt for wine or a basic spirit and mixer, because they are easier to make and serve – that is, until now. Beginning May 1, Batch & Bottle will be available nationwide to simplify the home cocktail experience with three simple steps: chill, pour & garnish.

Batch & Bottle, a range of four premium, pre-batched, ready-to-serve cocktails, features some of the world’s most beloved spirits brands, bringing bar-ready cocktails directly to your home, effortlessly elevating any hosting occasion. Created by the family-owned, independent spirits company William Grant & Sons, Batch & Bottle marks the parent company’s first major foray into the Ready-To-Drink (RTD) cocktail space.

Made with meticulous attention to detail, the Batch & Bottle offerings include the Monkey Shoulder Lazy Old Fashioned, the brainchild of Joe Petch, the Monkey Shoulder Global Ambassador; the Reyka Rhubarb Cosmopolitan, which leverages the Icelandic glacial vodka and unique ingredients to create a reimagined twist on the classic cosmopolitan; the Glenfiddich Scotch Manhattan, which includes the secret ‘Granny Gordon’s bitters’ recipe for a cocktail that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world; and the Hendrick’s Gin Martini, created by Ms. Lesley Gracie, the Hendrick’s Master Distiller, in collaboration with five of the world’s best bars—Brujas, Nutmeg & Clove, Yaldy, Maybe Sammy, and Nauticus—to deliver a light, yet intriguingly complex flavor.

“As consumer drinking occasions continue to rapidly evolve, and as Ready-To-Drink cocktails continue to explode in popularity across the US, we want to arm our fans with elevated and exciting cocktail options from the iconic brands they already know and love,” said Paul Basford, William Grant & Sons US President and Managing Director.

“As Master Distillers, industry leaders and cocktail aficionados, we know our spirits best, so we wanted to offer our expertise, batched for people to be able to finally enjoy bar quality cocktails at home, without the hassle. Batch & Bottle is uniquely positioned to meet consumers’ desires for premium quality drinks that they can share with their friends, with total ease of enjoyment.”

With a range of different tastes, moods and occasions, Batch & Bottle allows consumers to amp up a date night, a dinner party for your dearest friends, or anything in between. With simple a simple three step prep, you only have to chill, pour and add the appropriate cocktail garnish to indulge in the Batch & Bottle.

“The ready-to-drink category today offers consumers more choices than ever before, but none are doing what Batch & Bottle is: delivering full-proof, bar-quality drinks that look striking on any bar cart or dinner table and elevate a special evening with the perfect cocktail for any palate,” said Jared Currier, Brand Manager, Innovation at William Grant & Sons. “And the exceptional ease of service—just chill in advance, pour into your favorite glass and add a garnish—means that offering an incredible cocktail is finally as easy as opening a bottle of wine.”

Let’s dive into each of the four Batch & Bottle expressions:

Monkey Shoulder Lazy Old Fashioned: An Old Fashioned should be no-nonsense. So, what better malt for the job than one that’s made for mixing? The Monkey Shoulder Lazy Old Fashioned combines Monkey Shoulder Scotch Whisky’s rich, vibrant and smooth blend with bold, bespoke bitters and golden sugar to give imbibers a legendary Old Fashioned.

Recommended Serve: Chill and pour over ice. Garnish with an orange twist.

Glenfiddich Scotch Manhattan: The mighty Manhattan needs a mighty Scotch. So, Batch & Bottle chose a bold contender: Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Whisky. This bright and balanced single malt soothes the sharp bitters and envelops the sweet vermouth, creating a cocktail both bold and delicate.

Recommended Serve: Chill and pour neat. Garnish with an orange twist.

Hendrick’s Gin Martini: The Hendrick’s Gin Martini is distilled with the unusual inclusion of cucumber and rose, and replete with undertones of floral, citrus and herbal curiosity. The Hendrick’s Gin Martini is light, yet complex.

Recommended Serve: Freeze or stir over ice for extra chill. Garnish with a cucumber slice.

Reyka Rhubarb Cosmopolitan: Fans can plummet into adventurous Icelandic depths with this playful Reyka Rhubarb Cosmopolitan. The glacial Reyka Vodka, made of Iceland, mingles natural rhubarb, tangy blood orange and zingy fresh lime to create an eruption of Icelandic intrigue.

Recommended Serve: Freeze or shake over ice for extra chill. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Previously made available in the UK and Australia, Batch & Bottle will be available nationwide in a 375ml bottle for a suggested retail price of $16.99. Each 375ml Batch & Bottle cocktail contains a recommended four to five serves and cocktails range from 25% to 35% in ABV.

To stay up to date on the latest with Batch & Bottle, head HERE or follow on social at @BatchandBottleUS.

About Batch & Bottle

Batch & Bottle contains a range of luxurious pre-mixed cocktails from some of the world’s most iconic spirits brands, including a Monkey Shoulder Lazy Old Fashioned, Reyka Rhubarb Cosmopolitan, Glenfiddich Scotch Manhattan and Hendrick’s Gin Martini—all meant to be simply chilled, poured and garnished.

Batch & Bottle is available in a 375ml bottle for a suggested retail price of $16.99. Each 375ml Batch & Bottle cocktail contains a recommended four to five serves and cocktails range from 25% to 35% in ABV. For more information on Batch & Bottle, head to batchandbottlecocktails.us or follow on social at @BatchandBottleUS.

About William Grant & Sons

William Grant & Sons Holdings Ltd. is an independent family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded by William Grant in 1887. Today, the global premium spirits company is run by the fifth generation of his family and distills some of the world’s leading brands of Scotch whisky, including Glenfiddich®, The Balvenie® range of handcrafted single malts and the world’s third largest blended Scotch, Grant’s®, as well as other iconic spirits brands such as Hendrick’s® Gin, Sailor Jerry® Spiced Rum, Tullamore D.E.W.® Irish Whiskey, Monkey Shoulder® Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and Drambuie® Scotch Liqueur.

Founded in 1964, William Grant & Sons USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of William Grant & Sons, Ltd. and features one of the fastest growing spirits portfolios in the US with brands including Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Hendrick’s Gin, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey, Drambuie, Milagro Tequila, Fistful of Bourbon, Grant’s, Hudson Whiskey, Gibson’s Finest, Monkey Shoulder, Clan MacGregor, Reyka Vodka, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Flor de Caña Rum, The Knot and Raynal French Brandy. For more information on the company and its brands, please visit HERE.

BLESSING – DEBUT EP

Leave a reply

Singer/songwriter Blessing releases her debut EP the girl next door. Listen HERE. The EP features previously released tracks character, boys like you which was included in Teen Vogue’s “New Music Friday” playlist upon release and girl like me along with new tracks freak, rage and 19 and peaked.

Lyrically rich and sonically lush, the girl next door and its six songs are anchored by Blessing’s singular voice, a textured and emotional instrument than can swing as boundless and heartfelt as it can charmingly self-effacing and witty. A byproduct of Blessing spending her senior year of high school at home during a global pandemic, these songs pull from personal experiences and self-reflection as she was closing out her teenage years alone in her bedroom.

Speaking on the girl next door, Blessing shares, “Each of these songs are really the things I never bothered saying being that I felt no one was listening. That truly gave me the advantage to writing everything I was feeling at the time. I just thought well since no one is ever going to hear these I might as well say it all, regardless of how desperate, embarrassing, or unpleasant my words may be.”

About Blessing:

Hailing from Houston, TX, 20-year-old Blessing is the youngest of five siblings and through most of her life, she never felt like she fit in and eventually fell in love with the freedom you have in creating music, especially songwriting. With a sound that’s been called “irresistible” by American Songwriter, Blessing sets out to craft pop music with underlying R&B influences that dive into love, ambition, obstacles, and heartbreak – songs that map the innocent, messy, volatile growing pains of a teenager. Having just spent her senior year in high school at home during a global pandemic, Blessing draws inspiration from personal experiences and weaves her candid emotions and witty observations into catchy songs that teenagers and young adults can relate to.

To Buy/Stream the girl next door:

Multi

Follow Blessing:

Instagram | Twitter | TikTok

Photo Credit: Coughs

How to Gain More Twitter Followers Quickly in 2022

Leave a reply

Twitter is a powerful social media platform that can be used to build an audience and grow a business. However, to be successful on Twitter, you need to have a strategy in place. In this blog post, we will explore what you need to do to gain followers on Twitter in 2022. We will also discuss some of the latest trends and changes that are taking place on Twitter. So, if you want to learn how to succeed on Twitter, keep reading!

Get Rid of the Non-Followers

Twitter can be a great platform for promoting your brand or sharing your thoughts with the world. However, it can also be a breeding ground for so-called “non-followers.” These are people who create fake accounts or follow large numbers of people in the hope that some will follow them back. Non-followers don’t interact with your tweets, and they offer no value to your online presence. They can harm your Twitter reach and engagement levels. If you suspect that someone is a non-follower, you can check their profile to see if they’re following a large number of people but have very few followers themselves. You can also use a Twitter unfollow app to get rid of any non-followers on your account.

Engage with Your Audience

An incredibly important thing that you should do if you are trying to increase the number of Twitter followers you have is to engage with your audience. Much like many of the social media platforms that exist today, one of the most important metrics is engagement. In other words, the more engagement your account receives, the more likely it is to be shown to people who are not your followers.

In addition to engaging with your followers, there are many different ways to engage on Twitter, and you need to be using all of them. For example, a popular way of engaging with people on Twitter is using Twitter chats. Another way to engage with your audience is by replying to comments on your posts or commenting on the posts of other users.

Use Visual Content

The next thing that you’re going to want to do to gain Twitter followers is to post visual content as much as possible. We have always known that humans are visual creatures, but since the invention of social media and the rise of popular social media platforms, such as Instagram and Twitter, we realized just how much of a visual creature we are.

One way to think about it is the fact that many people use Twitter for entertainment purposes and there isn’t anything entertaining about having to wade through a massive block of text. If you can’t think of anything creative to post, you could always use an application that allows you to turn text into an image.

Be Consistent with Everything

One of the most important things that you’re going to have to do to increase the number of followers you have on Twitter in 2022 is to be consistent with everything. What exactly does this mean? This means that there are a lot of things you need to be doing on Twitter to be successful, and you need to be consistent with each of them.

For example, when it comes to posting, you need to be consistent with posting and post regularly rather than irregularly, since this won’t gain any growth. In addition to this, you’ll also need to be consistent with the quality of your posts. Another thing to consider is whether or not you should be posting within a niche, and if you are, you should be consistently posting within that niche.

Always Use Hashtags

If there’s one thing that you can begin doing today which will dramatically increase the number of Twitter followers you have, it’s using hashtags. Hashtags essentially group similar content which shares the same hashtag. This means that if you are not using hashtags, you will not be able to increase the searchability of your content.

This doesn’t mean that you should use every hashtag that you can find. It seems that 223 is the best number of hashtags that you should post. One of the reasons for this is that many hashtags come across as spammy, and this is something that a lot of Twitter users avoid.

Promote on other social media

While Twitter is one of the most popular social media platforms, it is important to remember that other platforms can be just as effective when it comes to promoting yourself or your business. While Twitter is excellent for short, timely updates, YouTube allows you to post longer videos that can provide more information about your product or service, and with different Youtube promotion services you can reach an even wider audience. Both sites also offer opportunities to engage with potential customers, so be sure to take advantage of them.

Legendaddy Garners 600M Streams

Leave a reply

Daddy Yankee‘s critically acclaimed chart-topping magnum opus and final album, LEGENDADDY, has already eclipsed 600 million global streams and counting in less than a month! Speaking to the excitement around the last chapter of his genre-defining career, his farewell tour, “LA ÚLTIMA VUELTA” (The Last Round), has already sold out in advance of its launch this summer. He also recently shared the music video for “X ÚLTIMA VEZ” with Bad Bunny. It has generated 40 million-plus views thus far.

Upon release, LEGENDADDY landed as the #1 Latin Album in the World! It bowed at #1 on the Billboard Top Latin Albums Chart, arriving as his fifth consecutive #1 debut on the respective chart. Additionally, it catapulted into the Top 10 of the Billboard Top 200 at #8, marking his highest position on the chart to date and the first Top 10 in 15 years since 2007’s El Cartel: The Big Boss. Additionally, it soared to #1 on the Spotify Weekly Top Albums Chart.

LEGENDADDY incited widespread critical applause. Variety proclaimed, “Spanning over three decades of music, the 19-track collection captures the essence of reggaeton, salsa, dancehall, rap, trap, bachata, EDM, and Caribbean influencers,” and The New York Times noted, “The most dynamic moments come when Yankee reaches for the magic of the past—whether indulging in boastful hubris or summoning listeners into dance floor reverie.” Rolling Stone awarded the record “4-out-of-5 stars” and raved, “He’s going out in a blaze of glory.

Right out of the gate, LEGENDADDY took over Spotify worldwide, ascending to #1 on the Global Album Chart, achieving the biggest streaming day of his career on Spotify with a staggering 35.7 million streams—almost double his prior career best. The album reached #1 in 19 markets, including Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Spain and more on Apple Music‘s all-genres list. Additionally, five of the album’s music videos have vaulted into the Top 10 on YouTube. He has bested his own personal records with the album—and it has only just begun to catch fire too.

Listen to LEGENDADDY HERE.

However, his goodbye is hardly an occasion for tears. Instead, LEGENDADDY might just be the biggest part of the century as he invites a variety of A-list friends to celebrate over three decades of music on this 19-track opus. To herald the record’s arrival, he accompanied the release with nine exhilarating and high-energy music videos for “AGUA,” “LA OLA,” “ZONA DEL PERREO,” “HOT,” “BOMBÓN,” “EL ABUSADOR DEL ABUSADOR,” “IMPARES,” and for his single: “REMIX.” The single’s head-nodding beat and reggaeton production underscore hard-hitting verses and a rafter-reaching refrain. It pops off as a banger on par with his most applauded output. The accompanying visual proves equally scorching, stylish, and sexy.

Watch all of the videos HERE.

From the epic Michael Buffer-led opener “LEGENDADDY” through the emotional finale “BLOKE,” LEGENDADDY traverses a myriad of styles and sounds made famous by Daddy Yankee throughout his iconic run thus far. Other highlights on the album include “CAMPEÓN,” which tackles his career and what it took for him to be a champion in the industry as well as his staple signature tropical fusion sound that he melds together so well with the Luny (Luny Tunes)-produced “RUMBATÓN.”

Not to mention, he attracted his most superb guest list yet. Rauw Alejandro and Nile Rodgers rolls through for “AGUA,” while he and Bad Bunny turn up on “X ÚLTIMA VEZ.” There’s also the unshakable and unforgettable “ZONA DE PERREO” with Natti Natasha and Becky G and “HOT” with Mr. Worldwide himself, Pitbull. Lil Jon and El Alfa team up for the international banger “BOMBÓN” and on “PASATIEMPO,” he links up with Myke Towers for an explosive anthem, while “PARA SIEMPRE” sees him turn up with Sech. He also collaborated with some of the industry’s hottest producers including Play-N-Skillz, Luny (Luny Tunes), Tainy, OMB, JBD, Dímelo Flow, Slow Mike, Nekxum, BK, Jhon El Diver, Wiso, Alex Killer, G.O.K.B., Maki Váez, Scott Summers, Chris Jedi, Gaby Music, Muzik Junkies, DJ Morphius and Blu Rey.

LEGENDADDY stands out as his first album in ten years and his boldest, brightest, and biggest musical statement ever.

For one last time, he will canvas the world on his sold-out “LA ÚLTIMA VUELTA” (The Last Round) tour. Promoted by Cardenas Marketing Network and Raphy Pina, MR Sold Out, the five-month trek includes some of the rapper/songwriters’ biggest headline shows in North America and Latin America to date.

On his retirement, Daddy Yankee said, “Today, I’m announcing my retirement from music by giving you my best production and concert tour. I will say goodbye celebrating these 32 years of experience with this new collector’s item, my album LEGENDADDY. I’m going to give you all the styles that have defined me in one single album.”

That album is LEGENDADDY, and it is here forever.

About Daddy Yankee

As a culture creator, game-changer, agent of change, and groundbreaker, Daddy Yankee has consistently inspired, impacted, and influenced generations of creators. An indisputable icon, he remains one of the most influential artists of all time, bringing reggaeton worldwide for the first time. Latin music and culture would not look, sound or feel the same without him. It’s hard to even imagine the genre itself without “Gasolina,” “Despacito” [with Luis Fonsi] or “Con Calma” [with Snow], and more.