Posts made in June 2020

Post-Pandemic Salon Tips

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Post-Pandemic Salon Safety Tips from Celebrity Hair Colorist Michael Canalé

By Merilee Kern, ‘The Luxe List’ Executive Editor

With throngs of beauty-minded folks endeavoring to “see and be seen” post-quarantine after a long and arduous lockdown, it’s time to get back on board with beauty routines—and this certainly includes our hair coloring exploits. As salons across the nation reopen, many are wondering how we can prepare for the new normal—one that ensures our health and safety in the pursuit of envy-worthy hair.

For these answers and more I turned to Michael Canalé, known to be Hollywood’s most sought-after colorist and co-creator of “The Rachel.” He’s reportedly revitalized actress Jennifer Aniston’s enviable hair for over a decade and is also credited to other A-list locks adorning the likes of Heidi Klum, Kate Hudson, Shakira, Penelope Cruz and Carolyn Murphy.

In fact, for over 30 years, Canalé has been called upon by celebs, models and industry elites. His innovative technique and keen eye has made him highly regarded, not only for his corrective color method, but also for focusing on the natural beauty of hair. He makes sure to protect and prevent damage, leaving clients with hair that is as healthy as it is gorgeous. This is also why his work has been published in Allure, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Women’s Health, Elle, Marie Claire, Redbook, Glamour and New Beauty, just to name a few.

Canalé shared this advice on how stylists and colorists can best keep clients safe, while accommodating the escalating demand for post-pandemic hair services. He also added some trend tips as well as how to get the best color and longevity out of your service. A true pioneer of his craft, Canalé is a rare and enduring talent whose efforts will benefit untold beauty-seekers in the era ahead.

Merilee Kern: How can patrons stay safe while visiting a beauty salon?

Michael Canalé: Stay home if you do not feel well or feel sick. Come alone; leave pets and kids at home to avoid overcrowding in the salon. Come to the salon with a mask and help do your part to keep everyone around you safe. Be prepared to have your temperature taken and sign a form regarding where you have been and if you’ve been traveling.

MK: What advice do you have for salon owners, stylists and colorists on re-opening—safeguards that precaution-savvy consumers can also be mindful of?

MC: My advice would be to remember their training in school. Our training and licensing is based on 1,600 hours of learning how to properly sanitize and maintain a safe, clean and sterile environment for our clients. Additionally, I would say to fully set up all safety measures such as the sneeze guards, partitions (if needed), sanitizing tools at every station and extra masks for clients before officially reopening your salon. I knew this was going to be the new normal, and so my salons prepared early and the transition has been more seamless. Our salon input a red carpet velvet rope to stop clients from entering the salon before having their temperature taken, along with forms to fill out regarding their whereabouts and standard questions.

MK: OK, let’s talk hair! How can customers get the best color from their stylist?

MC: Bring in pictures and really discuss what you want with your colorist, along with listening and trusting them in what they think is achievable and best for your hair. I look at their eye color, face shape and skin undertones to accentuate their overall look. My assistants love that I say you cannot have a good haircut with bad hair color.

MK: Is there a secret for achieving the best color for your complexion?

MC: Your skin undertones and eye color really do play a part in what color looks best on you. Face shape and personal style also play a role in what you feel comfortable with.

MK: What are a few of the biggest hair color trends of the moment?

MC: I’ve seen a lot more women going back to their natural color or color that is easier for them to maintain. Because of COVID-19, we don’t know when or how long we will be able to keep seeing our hairdressers, so to have hair color that requires less maintenance is best. I have always stuck to the more natural hair color and highlight to accentuate your facial features. Using my products really allows your hair to maintain the best color, while it’s being protected.

MK: What are some highlighting or other techniques to prolong time between visits?

MC: I do not send any clients bleach. My salon has been great at making At-Home Color Kits for our base clients and for our highlight clients they have been receiving one of my signature glosses, along with their choice of conditioner. Both new and old clients have been sending in pictures so I can determine what kit to make and send them.

My highlight clients that have been comfortable returning to the salon after our reopen have had the prettiest grow out of hair color. Although they aren’t so blonde anymore, they still look great.

MK: What’s new and exciting with you … do you have any current projects or initiatives?

MC: Currently I have been working on my signature Canalé Gloss Collection. These are the first three of six. Each contains a UV sunblock along with our Canalé Cleanse and Soften that help maintain hair color and focuses on the skin undertones. Come mid-August, I am launching a deeper blue, called Midnight blue. It will cool out warm brunettes, while removing yellow and warm tones in blondes. Along with Cool Blue, these glosses were developed for clients with cool undertones. My Sunkissed Gloss will work with gold undertone and bring over-bleached and over processed hair back to life. It also works with golden tones such as baby blondes, strawberry blondes and golden-brown red heads.

Additionally, I have two hair oils coming out in August, these are going to be great additives for the Canalé conditioners; Soften and Soften Plus. Once added to the conditioners, it can work great as a detangler, hair mask and even styling aid. My clients and their hair love it.

MK: Maintaining color between visits is a gold standard. Do any of your own products help facilitate this?

MC: Yes, the Canalé Cleanse elongates hair color allowing you to go more days without washing. Along with my glosses, they last 20 shampoos and seal in hair color while giving your hair the shine to accentuate your undertones. The Cleanse and Soften items have been tested and proven to reduce fading and oxidation

MK: I see you also offer dietary supplements—do these support hair health and growth?

MC: Yes, and my product line is really about maintaining healthy hair. I have three hair vitamins; a topical called Nourish and two ingestible vitamins; Replenish and Replenish Boost. These products help hair growth both inside and out. I have seen Nourish bring in new hair growth around the client’s hairline while the Replenish vitamins thicken and help your hair grow.

MK: Where can folks access your salons and your products?

MC: Continue to stay safe and do your part to decrease the spread of this virus. We look forward to having you all back in our salon, feeling like yourself again. I have nine locations, which are in Newport Beach, Orange County, San Francisco, Beverly Hills, Pacific Palisades, West Hollywood, Dallas, Chicago, New York and Washington DC. Additionally, my products are available on Amazon and on our website.

About Merilee Kern:

Forbes Business Council Member Merilee Kern, MBA is an internationally-regarded brand analyst, strategist and futurist who reports on noteworthy industry change makers, movers, shakers and innovators across all categories, both B2C and B2B. This includes field experts and thought leaders, brands, products, services, destinations and events. Merilee is Founder, Executive Editor and Producer of “The Luxe List” as well as Host of the nationally-syndicated “Savvy Living” TV show. As a prolific consumer and business trends, lifestyle and leisure industry voice of authority and tastemaker, she keeps her finger on the pulse of the marketplace in search of new and innovative must-haves and exemplary experiences at all price points, from the affordable to the extreme. Her work reaches multi-millions worldwide via broadcast TV (her own shows and copious others on which she appears) as well as a myriad of print and online publications. You can connect with Merilee at www.TheLuxeList.com and www.SavvyLiving.tv

Follow Merilee Kern: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIN

Lindsey Stirling – The Upside Fund

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Lindsey Stirling Announces Charity Outreach Program The Upside Fund for COVID-19 Relief
now Open For Donations

New Episode of Weekly Virtual Series “String Sessions” Featuring GRAMMY-Nominated Singer-Songwriter Jewel Out Now – PRESS HERE

To Watch Podcast Also Available With Extended Interviews Releases Official MusicVideo for “Between Twilight” Featuring Derek Hough – PRESS HERE

Platinum-selling electronic artist, violinist, and multi-talented entertainer Lindsey Stirling has found a variety of new ways to connect with her worldwide fanbase this year, despite coronavirus upending her world tour to support her latest #1 album Artemis. To help families with dire economic needs as a result of COVID-19, Stirling created the charity outreach program The Upside Fund and, since its launch in April, has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to help. Today, June 30th, Stirling is announcing that The Upside Fund, named after her single “The Upside,” is now open to accepting tax-deductible donations and has extended its reach to include anyone with immediate economic assistance (such as housing/rent, utilities, medical bills, food) as a result of all of the events that have transpired recently across the globe. The goal of The Upside Fund, a project of Community Partners, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity, is to help anyone in desperate need of financial assistance, PRESS HERE for more information or to apply for assistance.

“All of us have felt the effects of COVID-19,” shares Stirling. “If this would have happened when I was just starting out, it could have been the end of my career. With so many people at risk of losing everything, I knew I had to do something. I started encouraging my fans who are struggling financially to apply for assistance through my website so that I can try to help. Those of us fortunate enough to be able to give back have a responsibility to do whatever we can to help those who are in jeopardy during this hard time. It’s time for us to come together with our communities and lift where we stand.”

Stirling has also been creating content during quarantine and reaching her fans through the weekly virtual series String Sessions, which recently launched as a full podcast on all platforms. String Sessions began in early May and has featured Andy Grammer, Amy Lee from Evanescence, JP Saxe x Julia Michaels, Gabby Barrett and Johnny Rzeznik of Goo Goo Dolls.

In tandem with the widespread launch of The Upside Fund, this week’s episode features GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter Jewel and showcases Jewel’s latest single “Grateful” – PRESS HERE to stream/download on all digital platforms. Each episode of String Sessions opens with an acoustic performance of one of her guest’s songs accompanied by a string arrangement created by Stirling followed by an in-depth interview.

New episodes will continue to debut on her YouTube every Friday, with the podcasts available on Mondays featuring extended interviews. PRESS HERE to to watch past episodes and PRESS HERE to listen to the podcast.

“It was so fun to work with an iconic artist like Jewel but, even more than loving the song, I love who she is and what she stands for,” adds Stirling. “In our interview, she shared a lot about her personal story, and it left me feeling so uplifted and inspired.”

Stirling also recently released the official music video for Artemis track “Between Twilight” featuring Derek Hough set amidst a magical fairytale to watch. Artemis, released September 2019 via BMG, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Dance/Electronic Albums Chart and remained on the chart for 15 combined weeks.

The 13-track album, which has surpassed 100 million total streams, also features the singles “Underground,” “Artemis,” “Sleepwalking” and “The Upside” featuring multi-platinum singer/songwriter Elle King along with “Love Goes On and On” featuring Amy Lee. Earlier this year, before the global shutdown, Stirling performed “Artemis” on top of the Launch Control Center at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in honor of Women’s History Month – PRESS HERE to check out her performance.

Stirling has also turned Artemis into a successful comic book series, with the second edition available now PRESS HERE.

Tom Smith × The Untitled Space

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The Untitled Space is pleased to present “Tom Smith: STRIP” as the first in a series of online summer exhibitions. In celebration of LGTBQ Pride Month, “Tom Smith: STRIP” premieres today, June 30th, and will be on view through September 30th, 2020. In addition to viewing Smith’s fascinating works, your visit helps support LGBTQ+ organizations. In particular, 20% of proceeds from sales of this exhibition will be donated to the Marsha P. Johnson Institute which organizes and funds programs supporting the black transgender community.

New York-based artist Tom Smith is firmly rooted in a generation of queer artists bridging our digital world with the tradition of painting. Smith spent the past 3 months quarantining in his studio where he created a series of 36 “strip paintings.” These meticulously hand-crafted pieces are made through a process of painting two works on paper in opposing colors. The paintings are then sliced into tiny strips and alternately glued to a panel. The end result? Each painting appears to be in motion or vibrating.

When asked about the suggestive imagery in the paintings, Smith comments, “In 2008 I made 36 fast drawings to unearth subconscious images. I immediately saw an unlimited supply of pictures connected to my sexuality without censorship. At the time I was openly gay but not yet comfortable showing pictures so apparently queer. At the beginning of the lockdown in New York I found the drawings and realized this was the perfect time to finish them as paintings because I had the time as well as privacy. Now that they’re finished I realize these things don’t just represent my own sexual impulses but that others see and interpret differently depending on their own imaginations.”

About Tom Smith:

Based in New York City, Tom Smith received a BFA from MICA, Baltimore, MD in 2006 and a MFA from the School of Visual Arts, NY in 2008. His work has been exhibited in Australia, Brazil, China, France, Ireland and Taiwan and he has participated as artist in residence at Largo das Artes in Rio de Janeiro as well as the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna, Florida. Smith is also the co-creator of DragOn, a drag and costume ball that has raised over $100,000 for HIV/AIDS related organizations in NYC. His work has been featured in publications around the world such as The New York Times, The Creators Project (VICE), Elle and Marie Claire (Taiwan) and The Sydney Morning Herald.

Detail of “Duct” by Artist Tom Smith, The Untitled Space Gallery, New York

Detail of “Quake” by Artist Tom Smith, The Untitled Space Gallery, New York

Sael – “Last Night”

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Sael, the new Argentine exponent of the urban genre, presents his most recent single “Last night”

Sael is part of the prestigious record label Black Koi Entertainment.

Sael, the new sensation of the urban genre that Argentina has given, is ready to challenge his colleagues and demonstrate your talent in this competitive industry, from the hand of one of the largest producers credibility and success of the moment: “Sky Rompiendo”. Empirically, Sael started his path in music as a producer. With a talent innate, was able to develop tracks and models that later became converted in his first artistic demos. Colombia gave him the opportunity to rub shoulders with artists such as J Balvin, Yomo, Lenny Tavarez and El Sisas, this last became its road manager and the main point of support for “exploit” your artistic career.

His most important artistic moment to date was the moment in the one who “Sky Breaking “(the producer responsible for much of the success of the career and successes J Balvin musicals) noticed his undeniable talent and decided to sponsor him under his seal Black Koi Entertainment record label. “I do not believe in coincidences, I have fought and I have persevered to achieve my dreams, and I am blessed to have the right people to my side,” stated the singer. His new promotional single “Anoche”, a reggaeton with influences from pop was written and produced by Sael, and is now available in all platforms digital. The theme premieres in conjunction with his lyric video official, which is also available on the official YouTube channel of the artist.

Last night – Sael | Video Letter

Mikhail Gorbachev’s Book

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“I was fortunate in being with Margret Thatcher when she met Mikhail Gorbachev in 1984. He did more to end the Cold War than anyone else and it ended without a shot being fired. We need to listen to his wise advice and encourage Vladimir Putin, not just Donald Trump, to act on it. Neither wants war but, as Gorbachev writes, we could end up with it by accident with the world being devastated.” Sir Malcolm Rifkind, former Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary of the United Kingdom

“Mikhail Gorbachev has written this short book to warn us of the grave risks we now face and to urge us all, political leaders and citizens alike, to take action to address them. He argues that self-serving policies and narrow-minded politics aimed at the pursuit of national interests are taking the place of political principles and overshadowing the vision of a free and just world for all peoples. He offers his view of where Russia is heading and he urges political leaders in the West to recognize that re-establishing trust between Russia and the West requires the courage of true leadership and a commitment to genuine dialogue and understanding on both sides. This succinct account of the immense challenges we now face by one of the world’s greatest statesmen will be of interest to everyone concerned about the current state of the world and its future.” George Schultz

The Book:

Thirty years after the end of the Cold War, world peace is at risk again. The President of the United States has withdrawn from the disarmament treaty with Russia, Europe is disintegrating, China is surging forward and a wave of nationalism and populism is destabilizing established political institutions and endangering hard-won liberties.

In view of this dangerous and unpredictable state of affairs, Mikhail Gorbachev, the last great statesman of the 1989 revolution, has written this short book to warn us of the grave risks we now face and to urge us all, political leaders and citizens alike, to take action to address them. He focuses on the big challenges of our time, such as the renewal of the arms race and the growing risks of nuclear war, the new tension between Russia and the West, the global environmental crisis, the rise of populism and the decline of democracy. He argues that self-serving policies and narrow-minded politics aimed at the pursuit of national interests are taking the place of political principles and overshadowing the vision of a free and just world for all peoples. He offers his view of where Russia is heading and he urges political leaders in the West to recognize that re-establishing trust between Russia and the West requires the courage of true leadership and a commitment to genuine dialogue and understanding on both sides.

This succinct account of the immense challenges we now face by one of the world’s greatest statesmen will be of interest to everyone concerned about the current state of the world and its future.

The Author:

Mikhail Gorbachev was the last leader of the Soviet Union, serving as General Secretary of the Communist Party from 1985 to 1991 and President of the USSR from 1990 to 1991. He played a pivotal role in bringing an end to the Cold War and he was awarded the Noble Peace Prize in 1990. Since then, he has maintained an active role in world affairs through the Gorbachev Foundation, a non-profit organization which promotes democracy and humanitarian initiatives globally.

Alessia Cara × JUNO

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Alessia Cara secures Album of the Year, Pop Album of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year and the 2020 JUNO Awards

Canadian singer/songwriter Alessia Cara scores big at the 49th JUNO Awards for her album, The Pains of Growing. Alessia won three awards out of the six nominations she received for Album of the Year, Pop Album of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year. In fact, Alessia is the first female artist in seven years to win Album of the Year and the first female artist to win Songwriter of the Year in six years.

Initially, Alessia planned to host the event before it’s cancellation due to coronavirus. But, the virtual ceremony showcased and celebrated many amazing artists; Alessia was one of the performers at the online awards show and sang her new song “Rooting For You.”

About Alessia Cara:

2018’s “Best New Artist” Grammy Award Winning Canadian singer/songwriter and Def Jam Recordings artist Alessia Cara emerged onto the music scene in 2015 with her first release, “Here,” a global anthem that grabbed the world’s attention when it garnered over 500,000 streams on Soundcloud in its first week. “Here” went on to become Spotify’s Most Viral Song of 2015, selling over 3 million copies. Four Pink Walls, soon followed, leading to the release of her RIAA platinum debut album Know-It-All. Alessia’s multi-platinum #1 hit single of 2016, “Scars to Your Beautiful,” was her gut-wrenching take on female identity, on body image and on deleterious behaviors in the name of beauty. “Stay” her #1 hit with Zedd sold over 2 million copies and received Song Of The Summer raves. Also in 2016, Alessia lent her voice to “How Far I’ll Go,” penned by Lin-Manuel Miranda, official song for Disney’s animated film Moana. The 4x-platinum “1-800-273-8255,” her historic collaboration with fellow Def Jam artist Logic, was one of 2017’s landmark singles with over 9 billion streams worldwide, contributing to her being named the most-streamed new female artist of 2017. “Growing Pains,” was the prelude to Alessia’s second album, her critically acclaimed The Pains of Growing.

A JUNO award winner for 2016 Breakthrough Artist of the Year in her native Canada, Alessia went on to receive the “Rule Breaker” honor at the Billboard Women in Music annual event. She won MTV VMAs in 2017 for Best Electronic Dance Video and Best Fight Against The System (for her multi-platinum #1 Billboard Pop Song “Scars To Your Beautiful,” which she and Logic performed with Khalid as the climactic moment of that year’s Grammy broadcast). Alessia also won back-to-back ASCAP Pop Awards for “Stay” and “Scars To Your Beautiful”; along with Dance Song of the Year at the iHeart Radio Music Awards. She has earned nominations for Favorite Female Pop/Rock Artist at the 2017 American Music Awards, the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Breakout Artist, the Billboard Music Award for Top New Artist, the BET Award for Best New Artist, the BBC Award for Song of The Year, and many other top honors.

Follow Alessia Cara: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Website

The Avett Brothers – “We Americans”

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The Avett Brothers Release “We Americans” Music Video Song Off Of Recent Album Closer Than Together Watch “We Americans” Here

Check out “We Americans” music video here!

The lyrics of the song touch on many moments in America’s history. See lyrics here.

The paintings that create the imagery for the video were done by Jason Mitcham. The band previously worked with Mitcham for their 2015 video for “Head Full Of Doubt/Road Full of Promise.”

The band announced Closer Than Together back in June 2019 with a mission statement for the album. Read here.

ABOUT THE AVETT BROTHERS:

The Avett Brothers made mainstream waves with their 2009 major label debut, I and Love and You, landing at No. 16 on the Billboard Top 200 and garnering critical acclaim. 2012 saw The Carpenter hit No. 4 on the Billboard Top 200 and was followed by Magpie and the Dandelion (2013) which debuted at No. 5 on Billboard’s Top 200 and saw the band appear twice on Jimmy Kimmel Live! True Sadness (2016) achieved The Avett Brothers highest career debut to date hitting No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Albums Chart, No. 1 Top Rock Albums Chart, No. 1 Digital Albums Chart, No. 3 on Billboard Top 200, and scoring two GRAMMY® nominations.

In the same year, the band was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. In 2017, the band released their critically acclaimed documentary May It Last: A Portrait of The Avett Brothers, which was co-directed by Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio. The film followed the band as they wrote their GRAMMY® nominated album True Sadness. The film was released theatrically and on HBO to rave reviews and critical acclaim and is now available on DVD/Blu-Ray/VOD. In November 2018, the band headlined the concert for Hurricane Florence Relief in Greenville, North Carolina, raising $325,000 to help those affected by Hurricane Florence.

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, 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, Liam Payne, Lil Wayne, Lorde, Metro Boomin, NAV, Nicki Minaj, Of Monsters and Men, Pearl Jam, Post Malone, Seth MacFarlane, 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, Monkeywrench, XO, Young Money, among others. Republic also maintains long-standing strategic alliances with Universal Music Latin Entertainment (Karol G) and Hollywood Records (Zendaya).

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), Lionsgate (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist) 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 during 2017 in order to produce movies and series powered by the label’s catalog and artists. Its first production is the Jonas Brothers documentary Chasing Happiness for Amazon Prime Video.

Sebastián Yatra – TBT

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Sebastián Yatra Notches His Seventh #1 U.S. Single, As “TBT” Surges To The Top Of Billboard’s “Latin Airplay Chart.”

The Current Global Hit (“TBT” – Sebastián Yatra, Rauw Alejandro& Manuel Turizo) also Claims Multiple #1 Weeks on Latin Pop Airplay, Latin Rhythm Airplay, & Puerto Rico Airplay Charts While Also Reaching RIAA Platinum Status At The Midpoint of the Year, Sebastián Yatra Has Also Just Been Selected By The Readers of Billboard As “The Latin Artist Dominating 2020.”

As the #1 Latin male artist on Tik Tok, with 23 Million Instagram followers, over 1 Billion YouTube views this year, and seven #1 singles in the United States already to his credit, Sebastián Yatra has unquestionably become Latin music’s leading new generation pop vocalist. A dynamic live performer that was chosen by legendary mentors Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias to join them on a landmark planned arena tour this fall (prior to its COVID-19 postponement), Yatra quickly became a “light in dark times” for his continually uplifting digital engagement with fans during the global pandemic.

While Yatra is enjoying continued chart success from 2020 singles with “TBT”, “Falta Amor”, and his latest collaborations “Locura” with Cali y El Dandee, and “Bajo la Mesa” with Morat, he continues to create new music, stay digitally connected to fans, and look forward to when they can come together in a live music setting once again soon.

“Music and life in times of pandemic – Through his social networks, the Colombian singer has tried to bring moments of fun and hope to his followers…he is one of the biggest stars in Latin music, demonstrated by millions of followers… dates scheduled [around the world], important awards… and an agenda full of commitments, which had rarely allowed him to stop.…Then the world stopped… His experiences in concerts and backstage have given way to [at home] shows with which, through his songs , he seeks to bring a little joy and hope to all those who are confined by the Coronavirus pandemic. We have also seen him reading stories for children and uploading TikToks with which he tries to get a smile out of his legion of fans (and boy does he succeed!).” – GQ Cover Profile (Mexico-translated)

“One of the most requested singers of the moment, Sebastian Yatra has not only collaborated with Daddy Yankee and Carlos Vives, but will go on tour with Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin” – People en Espanol: “Mas Bellos” Double Issue

“One of the top Latin artists of his generation… Sebastián Yatra has been a light during dark times, entertaining us with regular Instagram Lives, connecting with his fans by sharing their covers of his songs, creating social media challenges to be more loving and positive, posting hilarious TikTok videos, and even virtually reading bedtime stories to kids…. But in case you haven’t noticed, he’s not only one of the sweetest, funniest, most talented, and most humble artists of this generation; he’s also extremely sexy.” – Pop Sugar

Bronson – Dawn

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Following widespread acclaim for their new joint project Bronson, Grammy-nominated duo Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight of Odesza, and ARIA-platinum selling Australian producer Tom Stell of Golden Features, today released their next single, “Dawn (feat. Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs).” Paired with sweepingly cinematic production, the British producer’s celestial vocals evoke a renewed sense of hope and purpose, inspiring a near-spiritual experience upon first listen. A revelatory moment, “Dawn” appears as the final track on Bronson’s self-titled debut album, due out in full August 7 on Foreign Family Collective and Ninja Tune.

Listen to “Dawn (feat. Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs)” here.

Bronson shares how “Dawn” came together: “Creatively, we respect Orlando (Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs) so much. When we started the writing process for “Dawn”, it was with the intent to fill in the gap of what was missing on the record. We came to him with an initial idea for the track, and in turn, he listened to parts of the record, made sense of its themes both sonically and conceptually, and started to write over what became what “Dawn” is now. Not only do the lyrics provide this renewed sense of hope, but his vocals compliment the tone and energy of the song perfectly – “Dawn” is a song meant to take you on a journey and explore various concepts and emotions of the record. We couldn’t think of a more fitting song to end the album with.”

Debuted earlier this year, Bronson formed out of the personal connection that Mills and Knight shared with Stell, fueled by a calling to pursue new creative frontiers beyond their respective projects. After three years of trading sounds across time zones and continents, the product of those collective efforts culminated in 2018 when the trio spent a week in the remote reaches of Berry, Australia, recording what would later become their first album. The project strikes a beautiful balance between intense, emotive instrumentals and cathartic, melodic vocal tracks. In addition to Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and lau.ra, Gallant lends his voice to the album as a guest feature.

Further exploring their underground sensibilities, Bronson’s self-titled debut album arrives August 7 via Foreign Family Collective and Ninja Tune. It is available now to pre-order and pre-save digitally. Pre-order the physical LP at the official Bronson store.

Madame Gandhi Releases New Video

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Acclaimed artist and activist Madame Gandhi debuts her new music video for “Waiting For Me” and announces other exciting upcoming events

Today, multi-talented artist, percussionist, producer and activist Madame Gandhi releases her newest video for “Waiting For Me.” Directed by Misha Ghose, “Waiting For Me” was conceptualized and produced by an all-female team and features queer, trans, female and gender non-conforming cast members. With its contrasting industrial imagery and color palettes, the visual brings the song’s empowering message to life: an eco-feminist call to action that eschews institutionalized power structures in favor of forging new narratives of self-expression. This feminist anthem perfectly aligns with Madame Gandhi’s persistent fight for equality and justice and you can check out Vogue Magazine’s article about Madame Gandhi and the video here.

When asked about the video, Madame Gandhi explains, “We as artists have the power to use our art to vividly reimagine the world we wished we lived in. ‘Waiting For Me’ is a song about questioning societal norms as they exist. The video opens with the quote, ‘We always assume our own powerlessness, but never our own power.’ With the interconnected social justice movements happening around the world, we are seeing a larger belief in the power of the collective for change. This music video is a call to action for each of us to examine how hierarchy, capitalism and systemic oppression serve to keep us obedient, with little space for dialogue or critical thinking. My hope is that this video inspires folks to ask, ‘Are my behaviors contributing to the oppression of somebody else? And what contributes to my own oppression? What does my version of freedom look and feel like?’”

The video for “Waiting For Me” launches the next chapter in Madame Gandhi’s already critically-acclaimed career, as she announces her signing with Sony Music Masterworks. Having already released her first two EPs, Gandhi begins her new partnership with Sony Music Masterworks ahead of the third and final installment in the series.

Madame Gandhi has had even more excitement recently, one of which being her performance for NPR Tiny Desk (Home) Concert. In addition, Gandhi was elected as 2020 TED Fellow for her commitment to creating meaningful and positive change and will also participate in TED2020 this summer. Here, she will be joining multidisciplinary individuals across the globe for an online gathering of conversations, sessions and performances. But, this is not Madame Gandhi’s first experience on the TED Stage; she returns after her 2018 TED Talk about the importance of making music accessible to those hard of hearing.

Madame Gandhi also recently provided a song to the documentary series And She Could Be Next. For this project, Gandhi works in collaboration with Gingger Shankar on a track entitled “Freedom Cries” which will be found on the show’s soundtrack. The documentary series chronicles the defiant movement of women of color who are transforming American politics. And She Could Be Next is currently airing on local PBS stations, streaming online at AndSheCouldBeNext.com and on the PBS app on your smart TV.

About Madame Gandhi:

Kiran Gandhi, who performs as Madame Gandhi, is an artist and activist whose mission is to elevate and celebrate gender liberation. With an imitable pairing of complex percussive rhythms and empowering messages of liberation, Madame Gandhi is known for her passionately uplifting music that continues to elevate the female voice and redefine notions of gender, identity and politics.

She has toured as the drummer for M.I.A, Thievery Corporation and most recently Oprah on her 2020 Vision Stadium Tour. Gandhi holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and Gender Studies from Georgetown and an MBA from Harvard. In 2015, she ran the London Marathon bleeding freely to combat period stigma around the world, sparking a global viral conversation about how we treat menstruation in various cultures. She has been listed as a Forbes 30 Under 30 member and is a 2020 TED Fellow. Her uplifting music and inspiring talks have been critically acclaimed by The New York Times, Billboard, NPR and more. Her song “The Future is Female” reached #8 on the Spotify Viral US Charts following the 2017 Women’s March. She has released two short-form albums, Voices and Visions, accompanied by a series of music videos produced by women and gender non-conforming creatives. Gandhi is currently working on her third short-form album Vibrations.

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Post-Pandemic Salon Safety Tips from Celebrity Hair Colorist Michael Canalé

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Alessia Cara secures Album of the Year, Pop Album of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year and the 2020 JUNO Awards

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Acclaimed artist and activist Madame Gandhi debuts her new music video for “Waiting For Me” and announces other exciting upcoming events

￼￼About Madame Gandhi:

About Madame Gandhi: