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BROOKLYN BOWL LAS VEGAS × LINQ

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NOW OPEN: BROOKLYN BOWL LAS VEGAS AT THE LINQ PROMENADE

The LINQ Promenade, the entertainment, experience, retail and dining district located at the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, announces the reopening of Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas. The enormously popular live music venue known for hosting dynamic performances and unparalleled private events kicks off their summer line-up available here.

“Brooklyn Bowl represents one of our city’s most in-demand and acclaimed live entertainment and private event venues, and we are overjoyed to announce its reopening,” said Tonia Chafetz, General Manager of The LINQ Promenade.

Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas is renowned for its robust calendar of live music, 32 bowling lanes, five bars, flexible private event space and award-winning menu by Bruce and Eric Bromberg’s Blue Ribbon Restaurants. It comprises three levels and 80,000 square feet, able to accommodate more than 2,400 concert goers in its standing-room general admission area, the luxurious bowlers’ lounges adjacent to the lanes where bowlers can relax on leather sofas and enjoy the full menu of food and beverages, or the private lounge boxes overlooking it all.

Since opening at The LINQ Promenade in 2014, Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas has hosted countless live shows and private events and has accumulated numerous accolades, including being named one of Las Vegas’ Best Live Music Venues by Travel + Leisure magazine, Las Vegas Weekly and USA Today’s 10Best. Its notable performances have included Elvis Costello, The Roots, Jane’s Addiction, Phil Lesh & Friends, Primus, O.A.R., Smashing Pumpkins, Jack White, John Legend and OneRepublic, as well as numerous others. The original Brooklyn Bowl is located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn—”one of the most incredible places on Earth,” according to Rolling Stone—and, in summer 2021, Brooklyn Bowl opened a location in Nashville.

Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas is open daily from 5 p.m. to close. For additional information, including the most up-to-date show lineup, visit www.BrooklyBowl.com/Las-Vegas, or follow on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

ABOUT THE LINQ PROMENADE
The LINQ Promenade is the world-renowned, award-winning open-air district featuring more than 30 unique entertainment, retail and dining experiences located at the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. Home to High Roller, the world’s tallest observation wheel, and Fly LINQ, the Strip’s only zipline, an adrenaline-fueled and electrifying sky-high experience that launches guests over the LINQ Promenade while riding in a seated position. With the addition of the only zipline on the Strip, The LINQ Promenade is now the center for world-class attractions. High Roller quickly emerged as an instantly recognizable part of the already-iconic Las Vegas skyline and consistently ranks as one of the best, “must see” attractions by media outlets and websites around the world, ranging from Travel + Leisure to USA Today and Trip Advisor. The wheel’s 28 glass-enclosed cabins feature an interactive 30-minute experience 550 feet in the air. For more information, go to TheLINQ.com or the Caesars Entertainment Las Vegas media room. Find @LINQPromenade on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram. (Hashtags: #LINQLife, #RevolveVegas, #HighRollerVegas). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Know When To Stop Before You Start.® If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-522-4700 ©2021, Caesars License Company, LLC.

ARKELLS × BLINK ONCE

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ARKELLS ANNOUNCE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW STUDIO ALBUM, BLINK ONCE, DUE FOR RELEASE SEPTEMBER 30TH

NEW SINGLE “ONE THING I KNOW” OUT TODAY

LIVE DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON

Today, Arkells announced their sixth studio album, Blink Once, to be released on September 30th via Universal Music Canada. This new collection of songs prove Arkells continue to push their sound to new heights, with the anthemic Blink Once promising to live up to their famous live show.

Pre-save Blink Once now via your preferred platform.

Now more than ever, it seems our lives can change in the blink of an eye. We began working on this album before the world changed and this title felt right given where we’ve collectively landed. Everyday you wake up and you think you know a lot of stuff, then it turns out – you don’t.
– Arkells frontman Max Kerman

The bi-coastal project, recorded in LA and completed in Toronto, includes current hit single, “You Can Get It” featuring K.Flay, which has charted in the #1 spot at Canadian Alternative Radio for 4 weeks and is their fifth #1 at the format. “You Can Get It” was prominently featured in the E3 launch of the Forza Horizon 5 video game trailer this summer. Blink Once also includes #1 track “Years In The Making,” as well as “All Roads,” which serves as the soundtrack to #TogetherAgain, a national vaccine awareness PSA to combat vaccine hesitancy.

The announcement comes alongside the release of sure fire live stand-out, “One Thing I Know,” a rowdy, feel-good sing-a-along that is bursting at the seams. The music video was filmed after-hours at No Frills’ Dufferin Mall location in downtown Toronto, and finds the band mischievously performing the track at full throttle. “This song is about not being ashamed of who you are and where you come from,” notes Kerman. “The best version of yourself lets your colours show – to feel free, weird and unburdened by all the things out of our control.”

Watch the official “One Thing I Know” music video on YouTube now.

Regularly credited as one of the hardest working bands (period), Arkells have stayed ever-present, even in a global pandemic. Releasing three #1 singles and picking up the 2021 JUNO Award for Group of The Year, Arkells also filled their time off the road by releasing their first acoustic-leaning project, Campfire Chords – a deluxe LP & play-at-home guitar chord book inspired by their most beloved hits, and the band’s live streamed interactive music lessons that moved fans to learn new skills while “flattening the curve” from home.

About Arkells:

Hailed by The Globe and Mail as “the right kind of band for this decade,” Arkells are widely considered one of the most passionate, exuberant and in-demand live bands working today. As radio mainstays, sports-sync shoe-ins and curious students of culture, Arkells have remained ever present – building awareness and personal community experiences around their live shows and new music at every turn. The most emblematic example of this being The Rally, Arkells hometown concert that was hailed as one of the biggest headline shows in the country, and is slated to return in 2022. On the heels of three #1 singles, Arkells continue to unleash new music and tour dates as the band and their fans return to live in-person festivities. Their hotly anticipated new album, Blink Once, releases globally September 30th.

LINKS: FACEBOOK / INSTAGRAM / TWITTER / SPOTIFY / WEBSITE / TIKTOK / MORE INFO

HEAT WAVES × THE FUTURE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

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By: Andrew Shibuya

It seems as though only months or weeks pass nowadays between environmental global crises. While heat waves, floods, and the like are by no means novel, the twenty-first century has undoubtedly seen an unrelenting torrent of environmental disasters. In the past week alone, a record-breaking heat wave in the Pacific Northwest left nearly one-hundred dead, two separate oil fires burning on the surface of the ocean in both the Gulf of Mexico and the Caspian Sea, and innumerable small fires blazing across the West Coast following Fourth of July celebrations.

The heat wave in the Pacific Northwest impacted Oregon the most, with a total of 95 heat-related deaths on Sunday alone. Temperatures throughout the state reached a record-high of 117 degrees, leaving those without air conditioning or access to a cooler environment the most vulnerable. The Oregon government attempted to mitigate the effects of the heat wave by offering numerous cooling centers and even air conditioners to those at risk of harm.

Of course, the June heat wave that struck the Pacific Northwest was not unusual, nor will it be an outlier in the future by any means. In talking about the heat wave, Oregon Governor Kate Brown most succinctly stated, “This is a harbinger of things to come.” Other Oregon officials echoed this sentiment, with Public Health Director Jessica Guernsey writing the following in a press release for the heat wave: “This tragic event is almost certainly a glimpse into the future for Multnomah County, Oregon, the nation and the world. The impacts of climate change with heat waves, severe winter weather, wildfires, floods, and other rippling effects are happening now and will happen with more frequency for the foreseeable future.”

And while these sentiments are hardly prescient, on the other coast of the United States, a similar heat wave scorched the Northeast. While likewise record-breaking in its own right, the intensity of the East Coast’s heat wave does not come close to matching the Northwest’s. And still, a heat advisory was issued in New York City, and Boston and Philadelphia both issued heat health emergencies.

Of course, this past week was only one of the first weeks of summer, and more heat waves and heat related disasters are likely ensuing. Another heat wave warning has been issued for this coming weekend in California, from the desert to the Bay Area. California also has yet to enter its own “fire season,” which annually typically sees a handful of newsworthy fires that continue for several weeks, ravaging local communities and habitats.

This does not, however, mean that there is a lack of fires. This past Fourth of July weekend saw a marked increase in human caused wildfires. Already under a fire warning, California alone has seen hundreds of fires in the past several days as a result of holiday celebrations gone awry.

And all this is without mentioning the current drought plaguing the West Coast. From 2012 to 2016, California experienced its worse drought in over a millennium. The current drought finds many questioning the future of many essential Californian industries, such as farming, which will undoubtedly affect the largest economy in the United States.

Though one may be curious about the origin of these disasters–namely the drought and heat waves–one needs to look no further for evidence than the two oil fires on the high seas this past week. The fires, one in the Caspian Sea and one in the Gulf of Mexico, were both caused by oil explosions. The former is said to have been caused by the eruption of a “mud volcano,” or possibly a mud volcano interacting with a nearby gas field. They are still investigating the cause of this fire.

The fire in the Gulf of Mexico, however, was solely and indubitably man caused. A gas leak from an underwater pipeline by Mexico-owned gas company Pemex saw the inferno come about just off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. A Mexican official has stated that there was no spillage, but there is still no explanation for the blaze.

Given all this, and the increased quantity of these sorts of events yearly, one can only wonder what a solution might be, and if such a solution is even plausible. And as each new catastrophe arises, it seems as though they are becoming normalized, with no action taken besides Twitter outcry. Beside merely pointing fingers at each other and pushing the onus of the responsibility around, the multibillionaires, their corporations, and the government ought to be able to do something.

Of course, it’s not as simple as expecting those groups to fix these global issues, as it is wholly a worldwide effort. As trite as it might seem, solutions to global issues require the actions of whole global populations. But besides recycling, eating with the environment in mind, and similar small (yet important) actions, what is the average person to do? Still, corporations such as Amazon are allowed to pollute and produce millions of pounds of plastic waste a nnually without consequence. Furthermore, former president Donald Trump once pulled out of the Paris Agreement in the name of America’s economic interests.

And so, just as Robert Frost once pondered if the world would end in ice or fire, the answer to his question seems to be becoming most clear now. As economies and profits seem to be more important than humanity’s future, the world will continue to burn, oceans will continue to rise, and people will continue to die. And as is true with many great problems, the issue is easy to see and difficult to solve–whether humanity will rise to its challenge is another issue entirely.

MEG LIONEL MURPHY × TRAUMATICA DRAMATICA

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LAST DAYS TO VIEW MEG LIONEL MURPHY’s “TRAUMATICA DRAMATICA”

The exhibition is on display from June 5th to July 3rd, 2021 at The Untitled Space in New York City.

Curated by Indira Cesarine, “Traumatica Dramatica” debuts the latest series of Murphy’s vibrant and emotionally charged paintings. Lionel Murphy’s paintings are directly influenced by her own personal experiences, as she copes with debilitating PTSD from severe domestic violence. She works out of a little blue shack in a junkyard on her family’s property in Wisconsin, where she paints detailed, vivid works on paper and panel depicting heartbroken giants that magically grow larger, stronger, and scarier than the world around them. Forbes has also recently featured Meg Lionel Murphy’s “Traumatica Dramatica”. Read their full article HERE.

Her solo exhibition “Traumatica Dramatica” addresses violence against women from her own perspective as well as the historical precedent of emotional and physical violence against women throughout the canon of art history. “The idea of violence haunts me, and I try to etch that subject into even the pinkest of paint,“ she has stated of her visceral portraits. Lionel Murphy depicts through her vivid brush strokes and intricate imagery a reverie through which the viewer can get lost with each poetic detail. Her paintings of the female form as giantess unconquerable figures address their experiences of pain, trauma, and healing as well as their interactions with the environments they consume as they assert their power. Her work depicts a reverence for fragility and humanity while examining questions about whiteness, gender, sexuality, class, sacrifice, pain, sickness, loneliness, and most of all—violence and its haunting memories.

Head over to Artsy to check out the viewing room for “Traumatica Dramatica” by artist Meg Lionel Murphy.

Enter the viewing room HERE and view the available artwork HERE.

JOY OLADOKUN × MAREN MORRIS

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The official visualizer for “Bigger Man,” Joy Oladokun’s new collaboration with Maren Morris, is debuting today. Watch it HERE.

“Bigger Man” is from Oladokun’s acclaimed major-label debut, in defense of my own happiness, and will also be featured on her new deluxe record, in defense of my own happiness (complete), out next Friday, July 9 via Amigo Records/Verve Forecast/Republic Records. The special extended edition includes all 14 tracks from in defense of my own happiness, as well as the ten additional songs from her self-released 2020 record, in defense of my own happiness (the beginnings), and one new song, “judas.” See below for complete track list. The release adds to a breakout year for Oladokun, who made her debut on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” last week performing “sunday” from Nashville’s newly opened National Museum of African American Music. Watch/share HERE.

Released earlier this month via Amigo Records/Verve Forecast/Republic Records (stream/purchase here), in defense of my own happiness finds Oladokun forging her own path, sharing the unique perspective she’s gained from living in today’s world as a black, queer woman and first-generation child of Nigerian immigrants. Born in Arizona and now living in Nashville, her musical exploration began at age ten when she was inspired to learn guitar after seeing a video of Tracy Chapman—the first time she’d ever seen a black woman play the instrument.

Recently named one of Rolling Stone’s “Best Albums of 2021 So Far” and one of Billboard’s “Best Albums by LGBTQ Artists of 2021 So Far,” in defense of my own happiness also features special collaborations with Jensen McRae (“wish you the best”) and Penny & Sparrow (“heaven from here”) and continues to receive widespread critical praise:

“She has a remarkable ability to distill how forces at work in the world…she can make even social and political protest feel like an intimate, warmly human act”—NPR Music

“Joy Oladokun, like all of us, is a work in progress. But when you talk to Joy, it’s almost like you can see that growth happening right in front of you. Every time she speaks, she’s discovering a new idea or a new thing about herself or uncovering a new way of looking at the world.”
—NPR World Café

“a serious talent with a kind of low-key, casual ease…she’s always seeking out the light to point the way, making for one of the year’s most uplifting listens.”—Rolling Stone

“one of the hottest new singer-songwriters making music…surgical songwriting and soulful vocals that will send chills down your spine on each repeat listen.”—Billboard

“Joy Oladokun is a rare talent who manages to dissect Christianity, queerness, race and mental wellness with a delicate yet determined touch”—Vogue

“Oladokun’s message is not only timely, but essential.”—them.

“There aren’t many frills to Joy Oladokun’s folk music but that doesn’t mean her songs, which capture the quieter moments of life with a frank honesty, don’t still sear to the core.”—Nylon

“a stunning major label debut…any Nashville musician worth their salt should be pinching themselves to work with Oladokun, among the most exciting talents this city has seen in years.”—The Tennessean

“the rising singer-songwriter proves her worth as a master storyteller”—American Songwriter

“Oladokun’s ability to shine a light on the truth is remarkable, but perhaps even more so is her ability to do so with kindness.”—No Depression

“this compelling young artist, now a Nashville resident, has seized headlines for the honesty and depth with which she conveys her experience…but her songwriting is poignantly universal.”
—Hits Daily Double

“Oladokun is giving us her whole self, and hoping to inspire us to be our whole selves
too”—Nashville Scene

“often striking, and always satisfying”—Nashville Lifestyles

“an artist able to turn an idiom on its head through powerful messaging and an open honesty about her own life and her own family and her own roots.”—Folk Alley

“it’s pop music approached from the mindset of a true singer/songwriter, not far removed from the art of Carole King…each composition is flawlessly conceived”—Holler

“Open about her queerness, mental health, and her mission to be intentional with the music she creates, Oladokun…is making a name for herself in Nashville and beyond.”—uDiscover Music

In celebration of the new music, Oladokun will tour throughout the year including upcoming performances at Newport Folk Festival, Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo and Austin City Limits as well as several dates supporting Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit and Dermot Kennedy. See below for complete itinerary.

Oladokun has continued to receive widespread attention in the past year, including recent performances of album track, “breathe again,” on NBC’s “TODAY” and “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” The song also received a key placement on NBC’s “This Is Us,” propelling the track to reach #3 on Shazam’s U.S. Top 200 while also charting globally. Additionally, Oladokun has been named a member of the inaugural #YouTubeBlack Voices Class of 2021, an NPR Music/Slingshot’s 2021 Artists to Watch, a Billboard LGBTQ Artist of the Month, Spotify’s RADAR US: Artists to Watch 2021, Amazon Music’s Artists to Watch 2021 and Vogue’s #1 New LGBTQ Artists to Listen to Now, and was recently highlighted as part of HULU’s “Your Attention Please: The Concert” alongside 24kGoldn, Kiana Ledé, Lil Yachty and Swae Lee. In addition to “This Is Us,” her music has been featured on ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” ABC’s “Station 19” and NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.” Oladokun also recently teamed up with the ever-popular life simulation game The Sims™ 4 as part of their first-ever in-game music event alongside Bebe Rexha and Glass Animals.

Find the complete IN DEFENSE OF MY OWN HAPPINESS track list HERE. Find Joy Oladokun’s confirmed tour dates HERE.

RE-INC × BODEGA

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By: Andrew Shibuya × Hannah Beck

This past weekend, 360 Magazine attended the release of re-inc’s collaborative collection with Los Angeles clothing store Bodega and interviewed one of re-inc’s founders and CEO, Christen Press. You can find our coverage of the event as well as the interview below.

re-inc was founded by four members of the United States Women’s National team, Megan Rapinoe, Tobin Heath, Meghan Klingenberg, along with Press in 2019. The company’s mission revolves around sustainability, equality, and the creating of a global community, citing the reimagining and reinvention of the future as their primary tenets.

Their collaborator on this collection, Bodega LA, hosted the release of their “REUNITE” collection. Nestled between loading docks and former warehouses in the recently reopened ROW DTLA, Bodega is sequestered on the far end of the historic commercial complex turned upscale shopping mall. The store itself follows suit with its surrounding industrial environment, with many elements of the former factory preserved and combined with the namesake New York staple.

The event itself was based around the opportunity to shop the new collection in the Bodega store, as well as the opportunity to meet re-inc founders Heath and Press. Outside the store was a separate outdoors area where the festivities mainly took place, comprised of a DJ booth, a fruit stand, and a shaved iced stand. In addition, there was a small tent set up under which founders Heath and Press autographed posters and took pictures with fans.

The founders of re-inc will be playing at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo this summer, something many of the fans present at the event were excited about. The US Women’s National Team is once more expected to be one of the dominant teams in the tournament. In 2016 in Brazil, Team USA was narrowly defeated in the quarterfinals round in a match against Sweden, though in 2019, the women won the FIFA World Cup in France.

For Heath, Press, Klingenberg, and Rapinoe, their identities as global athletes seem to be inextricable from re-inc’s mission and this latest Reunite Capsule. This collection is centered around not only a reopening of the world as vaccination numbers rise and coronavirus cases fall, but also, of course, their global competition this summer.

And so, in correspondence with this vast crowd of eager soccer fans and the desire to build a community around re-inc, one of the centerpieces of the event was a board where fans were encouraged to respond to the prompt “How will you boldly re-imagine the status quo?”. This feature of the event gestures to re-inc’s mission and core belief of “relentless and continuous reinvention”.

It seems as though re-inc likewise have intended to honor their mission through various production and charitable ventures. The clothes themselves are all said to have been made in woman-owned factories of recycled and organic materials. In addition, 1% of sales from the Reunited Capsule are to be given to the Partners in Health charity, who are striving for a more equitable distribution of the coronavirus vaccine. It is also worth noting that the collection was manufactured in factories on the East Coast of the United States.

The collection, which will be available at 9pm EST June 29th on their website, is comprised of a variety of colorful clothing with various accompanying graphics, seemingly paying homage to the trending resurgence of psychedelia. The garments range from sweats to hats and are in primarily earth tones. This event and the collaboration were similarly re-inc’s first foray into in-store retail. You can find the new collection HERE.

360 Magazine was able to speak briefly to Press about the inspiration behind the newest collection as well as plans for re-inc’s future. Read the interview below:

What were some of the main sources of inspiration for re-inc’s newest collection?

It was the Olympics, of course, and there’s a little psychedelia in it, alluding to our next collection, the Field of Flowers collection, coming out this summer. And it’s really inspired by that happy high and about reimagining what your health and prosperity is, and of course, coming together in a new reimagined way.

What was most important to you in the designing of this collection?

I think with every collection we design we want to get past just the surface and go really into emotions and humanity. I think that there is a tension in that because it is hard to convey something deep down, and I think we’ve done a really great job with that.

ABOUT re—inc

re—inc is a purpose-driven clothing company that was founded by world champions Christen Press, Tobin Heath, Megan Rapinoe, and Meghan Klingenberg in 2019. The company features gender-fluid designs that are ethically sourced and produced. re—inc’s founders encourage their fans to boldly reimagine the status quo and become change makers. Over the last two years, re—inc has partnered with over fifteen grassroots organizations to amplify their work and have donated over $90,000 to their causes.

ABOUT Bodega

Founded in 2006, Bodega has been a refuge and tool for a clandestine group of artists through the ideation and execution of creative endeavors examining the intersection of fashion, counterculture, community, and the arts.

DADDY YANKEE RECEIVES AGENT OF CHANGE AWARD

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“Premios Juventud” Honors Global Super Star Daddy Yankee with the “Agent of Change” Award

The King of Reggaeton Will Receive the Prestigious Recognition for His Fight Against World Hunger

Summer’s Most Awaited Celebration Will Air on Thursday, July 22 at 7 p.m. ET on Univision

Renowned for recognizing artists who are using their star power to drive change in the world, Univision’s “Premios Juventud” (PJ / Youth Awards) today announced it will honor global superstar Daddy Yankee with its prestigious “Agent of Change” award. The 18th edition of summer’s most awaited celebration will air on Thursday, July 22, at 7 p.m. ET/PT on Univision.

“At ‘Premios Juventud,’ we have celebrated Daddy Yankee for his enormous contributions to Latin Music as a global icon. This year, we are proud to honor his exemplary role as a humanitarian driving change in our community and the world,” said Ignacio Meyer, SVP of Music, Nonfiction, and Development at Univision. “His outstanding work helping the most vulnerable, whether it is with Daddy’s House or supporting other initiatives, makes him an inspiration to our youth and one of this year’s recipients of our prestigious ‘Agent of Change’ award.”

Daddy Yankee is the first artist announced to receive an “Agent of Change” award in this year’s show. His efforts to combat world hunger include Daddy’s House, an organization he founded in the Dominican Republic, dedicated to feeding kids daily. In addition, the king of reggaeton has participated in various initiatives with Feeding America, Habitat for Humanity, Casa Protegida Julia de Burgos, and Red Cross.

As previously announced, live from the Watsco Center in Miami, Alejandra Espinoza will host summer’s most awaited celebration, along with other hosts scheduled to be announced at a later date. Borja Voces will be the backstage host, bringing fans the latest news. “PJ Takeover,” the popular one-hour pre-show, will be hosted by Gabriel Coronel, Jomari Goyso, Roberto Hernández, Clarissa Molina, and Fátima Molina.

For the complete list of nominees and to vote for their favorite artists and influencers, fans can visit PremiosJuventud.com as well as the Uforia app. The voting period ends on Monday, June 28.

For more information on voting and the latest news and updates, fans can visit PremiosJuventud.com. Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag #PremiosJuventud and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Visit corporate.univision.com for more information on Univision and follow @UnivisionPRTeam on Twitter and Instagram.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BLACK MUSIC MONTH

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By: Andrew Shibuya

For many, June is a month of celebration. Between Pride Month and the official start of summer, June’s thirty days are chock-full of various festivities and commemorations. And still, one of June’s national designations in the United States is almost wholly overlooked annually: African American Music Appreciation Month.

Though this coining of June as African American Music Appreciation Month was first introduced by President Jimmy Carter in 1979, originally dubbed Black Music Month, its current name was given by President Barack Obama in 2009. From its initiation, this commemoration was intended to serve as most generally as a celebration of all African American music in the United States.

And in a recent official White House press release, President Joe Biden voiced his own sentiments behind the importance of Black Music Appreciation month: “During Black Music Appreciation Month, we honor the innovative artists whose musical expressions move us, brighten our daily lives, and bring us together. Across the generations, Black music has pioneered the way we listen to music while preserving Black cultural traditions and sharing the unique experiences of the Black community.”

It would be premature, though, to celebrate Black Music Appreciation Month by solely celebrating a handful of the most prominent Black artists. Because what is Black music exactly? While many companies and streaming platforms have taken to commemorating various iconic artists or works, the goal of this commemoration ought to be to acknowledge and celebrate the vast influence and impact of African American music in the United States as a whole.

Of course, to even begin to fathom how to track this influence, one must attempt to define Black music itself. And inherently, the phrase, and the genre, if it can be put under a singular one, evade definition. Is Black music music simply made by Black artists? Yes. But is music inspired by or influenced by Black artists Black music? This answer is not so clear.

One of the many issues with the distinction and defining of Black music in the music industry is that oftentimes Black artists are often pushed into genres such as R&B or hip hop, which is both reductive and limiting to the artists and their work. Singer-songwriter FKA twigs spoke about this phenomenon in an interview with the Guardian in 2014: “When I first released music and no one knew what I looked like, I would read comments like: ‘I’ve never heard anything like this before, it’s not in a genre.’ And then my picture came out six months later, now she’s an R&B singer.”

For years, high profile award shows such as the Grammys have only helped to perpetuate this boxing in of Black artists. Take, for instance, the confusingly and formerly titled “Best Urban Contemporary Album” category. It was only last year that the category was renamed to “Best Progressive R&B Album”. The change was born out of the award show’s desire for more inclusivity and to better reflect the fluidity and scope of the category. In the past several years, many in the industry and in the media have called for an end to the use of “urban” in describing music, arguing that the term is a vague and limiting generalization for Black music as a whole.

And even in genres that are considered to be most influenced or dominated by Black artists, there has historically been underrepresentation in the industry. For example, just last year, producer Kaytranada became the first Black artist to win the Grammy for “Best Dance/Electronic Album”, though the genre has been unarguably most influenced by traditionally Black dominated genres such as disco and hip hop.

With these inequalities and failures of the music industry in mind, the necessity for Black Music Appreciation Month is most evident. To celebrate Black music is to acknowledge its importance in the history of American music, with respect to both Black artists and otherwise. It is likewise clear that a rigid distinction between what is Black music and what is not is not necessary–for in reality, so much of contemporary American music has been in some way touched or influenced by so-called Black music. It is an undercurrent that has served as the foundation for all of contemporary American music, and has been, in fact, so integral to all of American music.

Because for centuries now, Black music has been a keystone of the American music identity. Antonin Dvořák, a Czech composer, once cited the late nineteenth century African American spirituals he encountered in America as a great inspiration for his “New World Symphony”. Even more than simply citing these spiritual hymns as inspiration, Dvořák similarly recognized their power, importance, and place in the future and legacy of American music: “These beautiful and varied themes are the product of the soil. They are the folk songs of America, and your composers must turn to them.”

And just as Black music cannot simply be a subgenre of music, it can likewise never be defined as any one thing. Thus, Black Music Appreciation Month ought to celebrate the protean nature of Black music as well as to acknowledge the historical injustices to Black artists and musicians. From folk to the blues, from jazz to hip hop, the influence of Black music on American music as a whole is both undeniable and wholly remarkable. And just as Dvořák was prescient to recognize, Black music has become the indelible foundation and promising future of American music.

THE PROBLEM WITH PRIME DAY

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By: Andrew Shibuya

It’s Prime Day–an almost dystopian new holiday of sorts, rivaling Black Friday itself and joining the ranks of those days that celebrate the contemporary culture of excessive consumerism. And perhaps almost as equally as dystopian as the day itself is the subsequent full throttle media push from news publications and influencers alike, listing the best deals and items to keep an eye out for.

And it’s not just Amazon that’s having a sale today. Retail giants Target and Walmart began their sales yesterday and today, too, attempting to both rival and outdo Amazon’s own sales. With this comes a massive ripple effect, with almost every large retailer and store offering their own imitative sales. Though indicative of Amazon’s obvious influence over the market, this ripple effect is similarly indicative of some greater ills of the post-modern capitalist world.

The event itself has been objectively well-crafted and carefully engineered. Beginning in 2015 to celebrate Amazon’s twentieth anniversary, Prime Day was introduced as a member’s only sale. And though the event was never truly a celebration for all as the company makes it out to be, now, the sales are hardly even sales. The bargains that are so celebrated are often merely engineered illusions, with prices being hiked initially, only for the appearance of a greater discount, and many items are often lackluster and unwanted models.

So, what is it about Prime Day and the subsequent market spike that keeps customers coming back? There are almost innumerable reasons behind why days like Prime Day and Black Friday are so successful, and there can be little doubt that there is a host of behavioral psychologists called upon to make Prime Day so successful. In general, Amazon employs numerous tried and true marketing and sales tricks that appeal to customers at a psychological level. From the rush of trying to snatch up a “Lightning Deal” to the fear of missing out on “a once in a lifetime” deal, Amazon certainly pulls out all the stops to generate perceived value around Prime Day’s deals.

This Prime Day, the first as the world begins its exit into a post-pandemic society, is worth considering sitting out. Out of everyone in the world, Amazon is one of the only entities for which the pandemic came with remarkable benefits. The net worth of Amazon and subsequently Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos skyrocketed over the pandemic. In 2020 alone, Amazon saw a reported 70% increase in earnings in the first nine months of the year. And from March to June, Bezos’ net worth grew $48 billion.

It would be one thing – not a good thing by any means – but it would be something else entirely if Amazon did not have numerous documented issues with their working conditions. And these issues are said to only have grown worse with the pandemic. So as more people turned to Amazon as the pandemic forced everyone to remain at home, and as Bezos’ net worth grew, so too did claims of timed bathroom breaks, unreachable productivity requirements, and general unsafe working conditions.

In addition to these concerns regarding Amazon employees is the fact that Amazon in general has a vast environmental footprint. In 2019 alone, the company was reported to have generated 465 million pounds of plastic packaging waste. In air pillows alone, Amazon’s packaging waste would circle the planet more than 500 times. The fact that events like Prime Day are so successful is remarkable to see as the greater world comes to terms with or, in fact, does not come to terms with global warming and the vast detrimental effects of consumerism culture.

But what is most astonishing about the success of Prime Day is that these great drawbacks to the event, and to Amazon in general, are no secret. People are generally not shy about their criticisms of Amazon and Bezos himself. Tens of thousands of people have recently signed a petition to stop Bezos’ return to Earth following his trip to space next month. Innumerable thought pieces are written weekly indicting Amazon’s practices. And still, it’s one of the biggest companies in the world. Is Amazon now inevitable?

Between multibillion dollar business acquisitions and new real estate expansions, Amazon continues to expand its reach physically and to a wider audience. For a company that began as a bookstore alternative, Amazon now owns wholly unrelated companies to its online offerings such as Ring, Twitch, and Whole Foods.

And while perhaps not unexpected, the sheer variety and scale of Amazon’s holdings raise concerns of a further and more dominant monopoly across the entire marketplace. This is especially concerning in a year when more than 200,000 small businesses across the United States closed due to the coronavirus and ensuing lockdowns.

These concerns, of course, lead to the primary issues with Prime Day. Even if the discounts were truly exceptional, are the glaring issues with Amazon – from irreversible environmental damages to its troubling work conditions – worth its vast selection and free two-day shipping? It is this dilemma that will be a primary issue of the coming years as the cost and convenience of these trademark Amazon offerings are overshadowed by the inevitable environmental impact and implications of Amazon’s burgeoning monopoly.

Moreover, with respect to Prime Day itself, how often do people buy things that they actually need? Oftentimes, as with many sales, people buy items that they would not otherwise, save for the fact that they are on sale. Putting aside Amazon’s own issues with packaging and other waste, this sort of rampant consumerism in itself has led to an increase in pollutant emissions, increased deforestation, as well as an acceleration of global warming.

And while these issues are rather glaring and easy to point out, the solution is not so easily within reach. Ultimately, it will come down to if the convenience of Amazon is outweighed by their ever becoming ethically or morally untenable, whether because of their environmental or social impact. Until then, it seems that Prime Day will continue to succeed, Amazon will simply continue to grow, and so too will the number of complaints and worries. And thus, Amazon has become the company that everybody loves to criticize but few can resist.

ELLE CANADA × PRIYANKA

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KO Média is excited to unveil the summer issue of ELLE Canada featuring “Canada’s First drag Superstar” Priyanka. The Indo-queer West Indian queen talks about leaving her job to be on the first season of Canada’s Drag Race, filming her debut EP’s lead single and why the show was exactly what Canadians needed last year. “A show like Canada’s Drag Race lets us see the light at the end of the tunnel. It was like ‘At least we have this. At least we’re all in this together.’” After performing across the country, she appreciates the warm welcomes and the support she’s received. “Getting that audience to come out and see you is so important because that’s what being Canadian is all about. We’re not a melting pot; we’re a fruit salad!”

Priyanka will also be hosting Pride Toronto’s 2021 digital parade, in honor of the massive and inclusive fest’s 40 year anniversary – just one of Elle’s front row tips for what’s hot this summer. Other recommendations include Tiffany’s engagement rings for men; flattering Canada-made, limited edition swimwear for all body types from Nettle’s Tale; and the most natural “no-makeup makeup” from Bobbi Brown’s new line.

Speaking of summer fun, if you love musicals, we’ve got the inside scoop on the breakout movie of the season, with “In the Heights” star Melissa Barrera dishing on going from telenovelas to Hollywood, working with the film’s triple-threat team (including Hamilton’s Anthony Ramos) and what the film means for the Latinx community.

Film buffs will also love our behind-the-scenes look at some of the world’s most reputable costume designers, from the dichromatic wardrobes of the Capulets in Romeo + Juliet to the 15 identical coats sewn for Ryan Gosling (and his Blade Runner 2049 stuntman).

In fashion, it’s the summer of sex, with hot days and sweaty nights driving the desire for sexy, slinky strings criss-crossed over exposed waists and diaphanous layers revealing bra tops and thongs. Meanwhile, the ‘70s are back, with flared jeans, old-school knits, happy face accessories (think 24-karat-gold-plated earrings)… and the retro rise of roller skating, as championed by fashionistas including Zendaya and Dua Lipa – complete with high-heel skates.

In beauty, we tell you how to get that healthy summer glow, and talk to an expert about the best sunscreens (and what most people are doing wrong when they apply them!).

And we take a closer look at ourselves, delving into body hair stigma (why exactly are we still shaving our legs again?); how social media and the desire for a perfect smile is leading to a rise in dental veneers; and whether we’re getting addicted to isolation. Instead of FOMO, could the end of the pandemic trigger the fear of missing in?

The summer issue of ELLE Canada will hit stands and Apple News+ on June 21^th, 2021. Read the digital issue HERE.

About ELLE
The ELLE network today, including France and the international editions, reaches more than 33 million readers worldwide: 45 editions of ELLE in 43 countries, 25 editions of ELLE Decoration, 5 editions of ELLE à Table, 2 editions of ELLE Men and 1 edition of ELLE Girl. It also represents 45 ELLE local websites, gathering nearly 100 million unique visitors per month. Lagardère Group, owner of ELLE & ELLE Decoration brands, partners with prestigious publishing houses worldwide, through license contracts: With Hearst Magazines, publishing 15 editions of ELLE and 12 editions of ELLE Decoration, in 14 countries. With Burda, Aller, Ringier and 21 other partners in 29 countries, publishing 30 editions of ELLE and 13 editions of ELLE Decoration. The Lagardère Group is a global leader in content publishing, production, broadcasting and distribution.

About the Group KO
The Group KO is made up of Productions KOTV, Productions KO Scène, KO 24, KO Média and KO Éditions. Run by the screenwriter-humourist-comedian-producer Louis Morissette, the group is motivated by the desire to tell stories that captivate the public, and to do so by mastering each creative aspect that goes into doing that. Whether it’s television shows, performances, films or magazines, the mission of the group is very simple: conquer the world, and then entertain them. In an industry full of possibilities, the KO Group sees opportunities and takes them.