Posts made in September 2020

K-POP Star Announces First Livestream Concert

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Singer-Songwriter-Producer, Wonho, announced today, via Rolling Stone, that he will be partnering with LiveXLive for a global pay-per-view concert. This will mark his first ever live solo act and debut performance for his first solo album ‘Love Synonym #1 : Right for Me.’ The concert is scheduled for Saturday, September 26th at 8PM EST/ 11PM EST / Sunday, September 27th at 12PM KST. Tickets will be open for sale on Friday, September 11th at 11AM EST / 8AM PST at LivexLive.com.

WATCH “OPEN MIND” MUSIC VIDEO HERE

STREAM HERE ON SPOTIFY

STREAM HERE ON APPLE MUSIC

FOLLOW WONHO ON SOCIALS:

TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE

The livestream pay-per-view performance is Wonho’s much-anticipated return to live performing. Wonho recently debuted his first single “Losing You” on August 14th, earning many great reactions from his awaited fans. Following that release, Wonho dropped his first solo mini album ‘Love Synonym #1 : Right for Me’, featuring the title track “Open Mind” on September 4th, which topped the Worldwide iTunes Album charts; taking up the #1 spot under U.S. Pop Album Chart, K-Pop Album Chart in twenty different countries including U.S., and catapulting to #6 under the U.S. All Genres Album Chart.

Immediately upon release, “wonho” was trending #1 worldwide on Twitter, with “open mind,” “#OPEN_MIND,” and “#Love_Synonym” following closely behind. As Wonho makes his first step as a solo artist with this eight-track mini album, he showcases not only his vocal skills; but also his lyrical, compositional, and production skills.

The title ‘Love Synonym’ symbolizes a new start that is different from Wonho’s music style and performances that he has shown before. ‘Love Synonym’ is a new definition of love that Wonho created in order to show his pledges and determinations that he will communicate with his fans. Wonho expressed his earnestness by participating in writing and composing five songs, including the title track “Open Mind” and the pre-released single “Losing You.”

The full performance on LiveXLive will not only feature songs from Wonho’s new solo album among other original and cover songs and a unique PPV experience with behind the scenes footage, docureality-style coverage. Premium tiered pricing includes VIP experiences, exclusive merchandise, meet-and-greets, and other event-exclusive perks. “LiveXLive is fortunate to be able to support Wonho’s return to his fans, the WENEE’s, and the career he loves. Our platform is built for moments like these and we are excited to power this one-of-a-kind concert experience together. We saw an incredible response for the Monsta X live show and anticipate Wonho’s solo breakout performance is perfectly timed to serve as the encore of a lifetime!” stated Dermot McCormack, president of LiveXLive.

Buzz surrounding his pre-released single, “Losing You,” which was dedicated to the fans who thought they may have lost him, took the U.S. Market by storm. Upon release, #WONHO_LosingYou_MV shot up to the #1 Twitter Trend Worldwide; and received notable mentions from publications such as PAPER Magazine, MTV News, Access, iHeart, and Rolling Stone, who stated,

“Performed entirely in English, the sweeping, piano-driven ballad showcases Wonho’s delicate falsetto, as he sings about protecting a cherished love despite all costs.”

Wonho also spoke to Forbes and Teen Vogue about his solo ventures.

“While these weren’t easy moments to face and endure, it was a time that made me think a lot and that allowed me to develop and grow — that was very important and precious for me. I thought of the fans waiting and supporting me … I feel a little more mature, and like I have more to say to the world.”

Late last year, Wonho’s fans tirelessly put forth efforts to show him he wasn’t alone in this world. Their message was heard globally, loud and clear; with multiple hashtags trending worldwide on twitter for weeks on end, online petitions garnering half a million signatures, fans taking it to the streets of Seoul writing supportive notes, and putting up billboards in Times Square, China and all over the world to support him.

As told by Forbes, “…fans had shown their support for the artist by sending the 2017 song “From Zero,” a special track co-written and producer by Wonho, to No. 1 on Billboard’s World Digital Song Sales chart to help prove his continuing viability and commercial appeal as an artist, songwriter and producer.”

After months of fan-driven fundraisers, online petitions, Twitter trends and love; Wonho is thrilled to be giving back to his fans. His fanbase’s new name is Wenne; and the fandom name represents the special bond between Wonho and his fans, who have been there to support him through the ups and downs.

Wonho sings passionately on the track “Coz anytime or place I’d be your shield, when you feel, like you ain’t got the fight in you to heal.”

The release of “Losing You” is Wonho’s first step forward in his solo career after signing with Highline Entertainment, which is a subsidiary label of Starship Entertainment—the home to K-pop groups including Monsta X, WJSN and Cravity—and houses viral EDM star DJ Soda [Read HERE on Forbes]. Back in early April, Wonho also joined Maverick Management’s roster, alongside Britney Spears, Madonna, The Weeknd, and many more big-name artists.

Hiccup in COVID-19 Vaccine Development

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By Althea Champion

In a statement from AstraZeneca, reported by STAT News, the biopharmaceutical company reported a halt in their global research trial. The company, which is working with the University of Oxford and is one of the few waist-deep in the process of developing a COVID-19 vaccination, reported that the halt is a “routine action which has to happen whenever there is a potentially unexplained illness in one of the trials.”

The company is in Phase 3 of their clinical trial in the U.S., as well as Brazil and South Africa, according to the New York Times, and in Phase 2/3 in England and India. AstraZeneca began the third phase of its clinical trial not much longer than a week ago, on Aug. 31.

Phase 3 efficacy trials involve thousands of volunteers, some of which are administered the vaccine in question, and others the placebo.

AstraZeneca and its most close competitors, Moderna and Pfizer, which have each been in phase 3 of their clinical trials since July 27, are backed by the Trump administration’s Operation Warp Speed, a targeted allocation of resources meant to hasten the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. 

The halt of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine—AZD1222—is the first made public by its drug maker, and will allow a safety review to take place. 

“A volunteer in the U.K. trial [of AZD1222] had been found to have transverse myelitis, an inflammatory syndrome that affects the spinal cord and is often sparked by viral infections,” reported the New York Times. “However, the timing of this diagnosis, and whether it was directly linked to AstraZeneca’s vaccine, is unclear.”

The vaccine was first developed by Oxford University’s Jenner Institute and Oxford Vaccine Group, according to nih.gov, and was then “licensed to AstraZeneca for further development.” Oxford-Astrazeneca began the third phase of its clinical trial not much longer than a week ago, on Aug. 31. 

The company stressed in its statement that the safety of their participants is a priority.

“We are working to expedite the review of the single event to minimize any potential impact on the trial timeline,” said the company in their statement. “We are committed to the safety of our participants and the highest standards of conduct in our trials.”

Graham & Brown Announces Wallpaper and Color of 2021

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GRAHAM & BROWN ANNOUNCES WALLPAPER AND COLOR OF THE YEAR 2021

Each year, the UK’s leading wallpaper and paint specialists, Graham & Brown, announces its Wallpaper of the Year and Color of the Year. Drawing upon seventy five years of design and manufacturing experience in the field, the in-house design studio identifies key movements in the interiors sector and forecasts the future trends that will shape the Graham & Brown collections for the coming months.

Launching the 2021 collection from its design headquarters in Blackburn in a globally streamed digital showcase, the heritage brand presented Wallpaper of the Year: Timepiece and Color of the Year: Epoch, an expert fusion of archive material and contemporary components.

GRAHAM & BROWN WALLPAPER OF THE YEAR 2021: TIMEPIECE AMETHYST
Full of movement, color, and exuberance, the Graham & Brown Wallpaper of the Year marks the start of the 75 Anniversary celebrations of the brand which will run throughout 2021. Piecing together fragments from the Graham & Brown archive, Timepiece is an amalgamation of prints dating from 1946 to the present day. The result is a bold, innovative wallpaper that represents the essence of the Graham & Brown design philosophy.

Timepiece evokes an environment that is opulent, glamorous, and indulgent. Reminiscent of the lavish blooms and tangled stems of Dutch flower painting, the rich, jewel-toned color palette is enlivened with flashes of sunlit petals and vividly striped tulips. Hyacinth florets form an inviting textural juxtaposition to the large-scale arrangements featuring elegant magnolia blooms.
In addition to the Amethyst colorway, Timepiece is also available in Moonstone and Midnight palettes. For the first time ever the design can also be produced as a made-to-measure bespoke Mural of the Year: Timepiece, highlighting just how far wall covering production has developed from the fixed repeat surface print machines of 1946.

The Wallpaper of the Year and Color of the Year are shining examples Graham & Brown’s perfectly partnered paint and wallpaper offerings. Each wallpaper in the extensive Graham & Brown collection is mirrored by a perfectly matched hero paint color and three coordinating hues for a complimentary full room solution. Complementing the Wallpaper of the Year is the Color of the Year: Epoch, along with partnering shades Spiced Mulberry, Fondue, and Whale Tail.

“Design innovation has always been the driving force and the heartbeat of Graham & Brown throughout the years. The studio team love to delve into the pattern and print archives and discover hidden treasures that we can then reimagine with modern production techniques and new color compositions, presenting a twist on the latest interior trends. A great deal of craftsmanship goes into the making of each archive artwork and we believe that is something to be cherished and celebrated,to be able to breathe new life into this material and let it have a new place within our history is something we love to do.”

-Maryanne Cartwright, Design Studio Manager at Graham & Brown

GRAHAM & BROWN COLOR OF THE YEAR 2021: EPOCH

To complement the Timepiece wallpaper design, Graham & Brown has announced its Color of the Year 2021: Epoch. A directional shade of plum, Epoch pinpoints the richest purple tone in the Timepiece wallpaper and amplifies it, channeling the revelry, regality, and luxury associated with the shade. A calming, cocooning tone, Epoch echoes a wider interior trend which looks to create restful spaces for healthier, happier homes.

“Time is an overarching theme that winds its way through each thread of our 2021 Trends Forecast. As the world we live in continues to shift and evolve at an ever-increasing rate, we look toward the future through the lens of nostalgia. We’ve explored how the future has been envisioned throughout history and how time is often considered the most precious commodity of all. Both Timepiece and Epoch contemplate on the passing of time and what can be discovered should we embrace the opportunity to recharge, reflect, and rediscover our history.”

-Paula Taylor, Color & Trends Specialist at Graham & Brown

Abby Hesketh, Product Manager and Paint & Color Specialist at Graham & Brown has shared her expert tips for styling the Graham & Brown Color of the Year: Epoch within the home:

● “Tonal pairings are a great way to make use of rich, expressive shades while still keeping things fairly safe. Epoch works brilliantly when used as a feature wall partnered with lighter hues of lavender and heather – this will soften the impact of the darker color while ensuring that all walls of the room tie together cohesively.

● If drama is your goal, then try pairing Epoch with other equally vivid colors. Partnering Epoch with shades of teal will result in an opulent, peacock-inspired look, while adding pops of peach can shape a playful yet sophisticated space.

● Color-blocking is a creative way to incorporate Epoch into a space. Below you’ll see a super easy geometric design using just three Graham & Brown paints – Epoch, Spiced Mulberry, and B aby Powder; the result is a light and airy feature that would make a fun addition to a kid’s bedroom, playroom, or even a lounge.

● A trend we’ve noticed gathering momentum is pale walls paired with skirting boards and doors painted in a darker shade. This is a great way to highlight the architectural features of a room and adds a cozy element while still building depth and structure as we head into the autumn and winter months. Use Epoch across all the woodwork within a room and pair with either a lighter shade of purple for a sophisticated tonal scheme, or with a mid-grey with warm undertones for lightweight feel.

● Finally, consider creating a drop ceiling effect by using Epoch on the ceiling but then continuing the color down to picture rail height – this is one of my favorite interiors trends and will work well with any of the perfectly partnered Graham & Brown paint shades.”

About Graham & Brown:
For over seventy years, Graham & Brown has inspired people to think differently about their walls through continuous innovation, creativity, and craftsmanship. Founded by two friends – Harold Graham and Henry Brown, the business has been family-run from its Headquarters in Blackburn,Lancashire since 1946. Now the UK’s leading wallpaper manufacturer, Graham & Brown has expanded its collection to include paint, murals, wall art and soft furnishings. Graham & Brown is sold internationally to over seventy-five countries through its divisions in North America, France, Holland, Russia, China and Australia.

Taylor Swift illustration done by Mina Tocalini of 360 MAGAZINE.

Taylor Swift Makes History

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Taylor Swift continues to make history time and time again. As her 5 star album folklore debuts at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 this week with over 846k equivalent albums making her the only artist in history to have 7 albums sell half a million copies of a studio album in a week. This marks Taylor’s seventh consecutive #1 entry on the Top 200 and 6th consecutive studio album with over 800,000 albums in the first week folklore stands out as the top selling album of 2020 with global sales over 2 million worldwide and over half a billion total streams on audio and video in just one week. What’s even more impressive, it is the biggest album debut by an artist since Taylor Swift last released her award-winning album, Lover, just 11 months ago! On top of this, folkore has achieved “the longest consecutive run at #1 since 2016” with six straight weeks atop the Billboard 200. 

Additional stats on the release of folklore below:

USA

  • #1 Billboard 200 debut with over 846,000 albums first week
  • #1 Billboard Alternative Album
  • Biggest first week album of 2020 and since Lover in 2019
  • Biggest female album streaming debut of 2020 with over 300M audio+video streams
  • Biggest first week album streams of Taylor’s career
  • Taylor’s 6th consecutive album with over 800,000 copies in the first week
  • Only artist in history with 7 albums to sell at least 500,000 copies in a single week
  • Debuted Top 16 songs on Spotify US Daily Top 200 chart
  • “cardigan” #1 iTunes Song
  • “cardigan” #1 Spotify Top 200 Song
  • “cardigan” #1 YouTube Trending Video

GLOBAL

  • 2M album equivalents sold globally first week
  • Over half a billion audio + video streams first week
  • 1.3M album equivalents sold globally first day
  • 740K albums sold in China, biggest first week since Lover
  • Taylor holds the Top 2 album debuts by a Western artist in China
  • #1 iTunes Album in 85+ countries
  • Biggest female album debut of 2020 in the UK
  • Biggest female album streaming debut of 2020 in the UK
  • Biggest first week album streams of Taylor’s career in the UK
  • First and only artist in 21st century to score five #1 studio albums in the UK
  • Set record for Spotify first day female album global streams (80.6M)
  • Set record for Apple Music 24 hour Pop album streams (35.47M)
  • Set record for Amazon Music Indie Alternative album first day US and Global streams
  • Debuted Top 5 songs on Spotify Global Daily Top 200 chart
  • “cardigan” debuted #1 Spotify Global Top 200 chart
  • “cardigan” had the most Spotify Global Daily Streams of 2020 (7.74M)
  • “cardigan” #1 Apple Music Top 100: Global Songs chart
  • “cardigan” added to BBC Radio 1 A-List (UK)
  • “exile” feat. Bon Iver Triple J Radio airplay (Australia)
  • folklore debuted at #1 on the ARIA Albums Chart claiming the highest Week 1 album consumption of 2020
  • folklore is Taylor Swift’s 6th #1 ARIA Album
  • folklore officially claims the biggest selling week 1 release in Ireland of 2020
  • Taylor Swift becomes the only female solo artist with the most Official Irish Albums Chart Number 1s this millennium

G-SHOCK Releases New MT-G Model

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G-SHOCK RELEASES STRIKING MT-G MODEL INSPIRED BY VOLCANIC LIGHTNING

New, Premium Model Boasts Vivid, Multi-Colored Design and Semi-Translucent Red Band to Represent the Build Up of Magma

Today, Casio G-SHOCK announces the release of the MTGB1000VL-4A, an all-new, limited-edition to the popular MT-G line up of premium men’s watches. The new model boasts a striking, multi-colored design and rainbow ion-plate bezel that represents volcanic lightning.

A red, blue and white color scheme for the hour, minute and second hands sets them off against the black of the dial and gold hue of the index. A rainbow vapor deposition finish colors the inset dial ring with blue-to-violet gradations. The model’s rainbow-colored bezel makes subtle coloring differences resulting in a unique gradation for each MTGB1000VL-4A, no two watches will look alike.

The MTGB1000VL-4A is also the first MT-G model to use a soft red urethane material for the band, which is made to represent the illusion of magma bubbling up. Fine resin gives the band connection a look of transparency.

The latest MT-G model features a combination of premium style and absolute toughness with an updated Core Guard structure that links the bezel and back cover with planar parts. This tough case construction provides Triple G Resist: Shock Resistant, Centrifugal Gravity-Force Resistant and Vibration Resistant. The timepiece also arrives with Bluetooth ® connectivity that provides automatic time adjustment, easy watch setting, world time for over 300 cities, home time/world time switching, alarm setting and phone finder function. In addition, the newest premium MT-G has solar-power, Multi Band 6, dual dial world time display, Super Illuminator LED light and more.

In addition to the introduction of this limited-edition MT-G, G-SHOCK has unveiled an exclusive video taking consumers through the features of the timepiece, which can be viewed HERE.

The newest addition to the MT-G collection comes with additional standard G-SHOCK technology such as:

  • 200M Water Resistance
  • Shock Resistance
  • Auto-Hand Home Position Correction
  • 1/1 Stopwatch (24Hr)
  • Daily Alarm

The MTGB1000VL-4A, which retails for $1,100 will be available this September at select G-SHOCK retailers, G-SHOCK Soho Store, and gshock.com.

Maria Soloman illustration for 360 MAGAZINE journalism article.

The War on Journalism

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by Justin Lyons

What a time it is to be a journalist.

During an era in which news is a divisive, politicized topic, one man seems to have been spearheading the charge against modern media. That’s what a brand new documentary from Juan Passarelli aims to cover, at least in part.

“The War on Journalism – the case of Julian Assange” takes the case of the controversial WikiLeaks founder. Assange now faces 175 years after his site published leaked documents with information sensitive to the United States government. Now we face the never-ending battle of journalistic principles versus legality.

The thing that sticks out to me at first thought is the idea that leaks have existed as long as governments and corruption have existed, which dates back to the beginning of time. As a journalist myself, I think we consider our job as watchdogs one of the most important jobs in a functioning society. If journalists aren’t delivering news telling consumers what they need to know and why they need to know it, we’d be missing a huge opportunity to hold powerful figures accountable.

Theodore Roosevelt once called journalists “muckrakers” because they, well, rake through the muck. They dig through the dirt to find that key that might be even dirtier than the dirt itself. While it doesn’t sound like an endearing term, journalists seem to take it as a compliment.

This documentary looks at the realities of being a reporter in the middle of the action, and it seems to no longer be safe to gather information about government action. It opens with what looks like a reporter being pepper sprayed by police and proceeds to show government officials claim they will not agree to refrain from prosecuting journalists for doing their jobs.

Assange was indicted under the Espionage Act with 17 counts. The Espionage Act is a United States law published in 1917 that aims to prevent interference in foreign relations.

While it might seem that the First Amendment could guarantee freedom for press to publish information with the public good in mind, John Kiriakou, described as a CIA torture whistleblower, brought up a really interesting point.

Kiriakou was charged in the Eastern District of Virginia and hired the lawyer who won cases for O.J. Simpson and George Zimmerman. That lawyer decided that Kiriakou’s case was impossible to win in the Eastern District of Virginia. His jury would have comprised of members of the CIA, the FBI, the Pentagon, intelligence community contractors and the Department of Homeland Security.

The same applies to Julian Assange. He was charged in the Eastern District of Virginia, where Kiriakou said no national security defendant had ever won a case.

Journalists aren’t seeking more freedom than the average U.S. citizen, but they should be protected with clearly defined rights. When the Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to an impartial jury, it can make you wonder how Kiriakou’s story is possible in the first place. It seems that seeking protection for the government has overwhelmed the protection of journalistic freedoms.

Overall, the documentary is definitely an interesting looking glass into what it’s like to be a journalist right now. I also think it’s an interesting look at journalistic protections. When thinking about people like Assange or Edward Snowen, who also appears in the documentary, I wonder where their protections start and end and how those protections are recognized if we consider them journalists.

In 2020, anyone can be a journalist, and using that freedom of press for information of public interest is something that is quite clearly protected by the Constitution.

Now that Assange is appearing in court for his extradition case, I look forward to the outcome, as it could become another landmark case for journalism in the United States.

If you’re interested in seeing “The War on Journalism – the case of Julian Assange” for yourself, you can check it out right here.

Dempsey Hope Releases New Song

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DEMPSEY HOPE – RELEASES NEW TRACK “ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, FEAT. gnash”

Seattle-based artist on the rise Dempsey Hope just released his new track “Elephant in the Room” feat. gnash via RCA Records. What started as an organic online connection between two like-minded artists, brought together after their respective fan bases started cross tagging them in posts to work together, soon evolved into both a friendship and an artistic collaboration.

Says Dempsey, “After my videos started gaining significant traction on my social channels, fans started tagging gnash in the comments section saying that I reminded them of him and that we should collab together. I was excited, because I’ve been a fan of his for a while. After that gnash had reached out to me and expressed his love and support for the music and we stayed connected over the next few months. Eventually, I recorded this demo that I thought he would be perfect for so I sent him the song, and he came back with this incredible verse and told me how much he loved it! To me, the song is about having that elephant in the room with your significant other. You care about the person to the point where you can acknowledge it; it’s not something you need to stay away from. You can figure it out together.”

Says gnash, “i’m so happy dempsey granted me an opportunity to share some light on this tune. our fans introduced us to each other online & we had been chatting for a minute about finding something to work on together. i connected with this song immediately because it reminded me of some feelings i think about a lot. my partner & i have been together 5 years & sometimes it feels like a lifetime already. there are those omnipresent wedding/marriage conversations that i think almost anybody in a long-term relationship feels from time to time. i’m someone who is constantly dreading big impending doom conversations – but it’s important to remember that saying “we have to talk” doesn’t always have to be a bad thing, & here in this song, it’s a great thing! (even though it can be scary) p.s. whatever it is, you got this & it’s gonna be fine <3“

Listen HERE.

“Elephant in the Room” feat. gnash follows the music video release of Dempsey’s beloved fan favorite “Time Flies.” Shot last month, the video bring to life the dynamic track that first took on a life of its own when Dempsey engaged his core fan base on TikTok to insert their own story into the lyrics, garnered over half a million US audio streams in its first week. Dempsey, who has been called “an unbelievable talent” by Lyrical Lemonade was also featured in the Seattle Times. Leaning heavily on a sound that he calls “nostalgic”, Dempsey crafts poignant melodies with Pop and R&B influences that will make you a fan after just one listen. Dempsey has a deep catalog of unreleased music and visuals which he will be rolling out this fall.

About Dempsey Hope:

Dempsey Hope has been a singer and performer since an early age. In 2009, Dempsey began recording his YouTube videos, gaining fans by doing covers and creating content with his childhood friend Kateel. He then got started with a local community based recording program in South Seattle, releasing his first original song “Game Time”, and started busking at local festivals and on the streets of Seattle. 

In high school, Dempsey focused on sports, and was a member of the Nathan Hale Basketball Team that went undefeated and won the High School National Championship in 2017. He also led his Ultimate Frisbee Team to a Washington State Championship and the national stage. In 2016, Dempsey began to dive back into the world of music, taking a more serious approach to the craft of songwriting and since then has fully dedicated himself to pursuing music. In 2018, Dempsey linked up with Seattle based producer Jake Crocker and they got to work, developing and crafting much of what you hear in Dempsey’s sound today. Together they created tracks like “Commitment Issues”, “3 Years”, “When I Wake Up”, “Time Flies” and his most recent release “Elephant In The Room feat. gnash”.

Official Website | Instagram | YouTube

About gnash:

gnash is a multi-platinum and Billboard chart topping singer, songwriter, and producer. A Los Angeles native, gnash stepped into the national spotlight in 2016, with his 5X platinum breakthrough hit “i hate u, i love u,” which spent an impressive 39 weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, peaking at #10. The single also landed at #5 on the top 40 radio chart and has to date accumulated over 1 billion audio streams, and 500 million YouTube views. The track was included on his third EP, us, which released in March of 2016, following his two previous EPs, March 2015’s debut u, and the December 2015 follow up, me. It was also included in his full-length debut album, we. In October 2016, gnash was featured on acclaimed singer, songwriter MAX‘s 2016 2X platinum breakthrough hit “Lights Down Low,” which has 400M+ streams and made the top 10 at Top 40 Radio. gnash has performed on The TODAY Show, as well as, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and has been featured in numerous high-profile publications including Billboard, Vogue, Nylon, The New York Times and Teen Vogue, in addition to countless others. As an advocate for mental health, gnash has been open about his struggles, publicly acknowledging the benefits therapy has had on his life and uses his story to show fans that its ok to have feelings, and through his music, has encouraged people to find their own unique way to express them. gnash kicked off 2020 by releasing a string of new songs, all from his highly-anticipated new album, due out later this year. For more information, please visit: www.gnash.us.

Running illustration done by Mina Tocalini of 360 MAGAZINE.

Best Workout Clothing Brands

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Since COVID-19, many people have picked up new hobbies. While some people have honed the perfect sourdough bread recipe or crafted the ideal tie-dye technique, others have learned to love fitness. Now, with masks and social-distancing rules, people can venture out of their homes to enjoy outdoor exercise or even strict gym usage. And while your worn t-shirts and pajama shorts may have cut it in your living room it may be time to consider an upgrade to your workout outfits. Here are some of our favorite athletic clothing lines that are ideal for people looking to safely practice their quarantine-hobby outside of their home.

For shoppers who value unique styles:

Beach Riot

Beach Riot supplies bra tops, leggings, and shorts that you can feel confident that no one else on your running trail will adorn. With popping prints and unique silhouettes ranging from snakeskin, to palm trees, to tie-dye, Beach Riot offers bright prints to their bra and legging pairings. Best of all, you can get these adorable and functional styles for $78 – $98. Also, the brand even sells masks in some of their fantastic prints so shoppers can be dressed head-to-toe in brilliant patterns.

For shoppers who want guaranteed comfortable:

Champion

Champion may be known for their hoodies, but Champion offers the comfort and stylish taste that we all know and love in athletic-wear. With colorful sports bras, bike shorts, and mesh tanks, Champion Workout caters to all of your exercise needs.  Also, Champion is the perfect shop if you are looking for clothing to wear post-workout; in particular, Champion’s collaboration with MTV has some of our favorite comfy and cute clothing. After the successful spring exercise collection, Champion Workout returns for the fall season with new prints, popping colors, and fresh styles.

For shoppers who prioritize sustainable outfits:

Girlfriend Collective

In a world full of fast-fashion, Girlfriend Collective is a rare find of fashionable, ethical, and moderately priced athleisure. Girlfriend Collective offers buttery soft leggings, sports bras, and bike shorts while supporting ethical and sustainable fashion practices.

If you are looking to practice your shavasana in an outdoor yoga session, Girlfriend Collective will help put your mind at ease because each product is made from recycled materials. For example, the compressive leggings and bras are made from recycled plastic bottles (fun fact: 25 bottles go into each pair of leggings!). Other products, such as their t-shirts, are made from cupro, a fiber that is the waste from cotton industry production. Therefore, their cupro tanks and tees are zero-waste because they are made from other products cotton waste!

Conclusion

As the world eases into a new type of normal, it is important for us all to safely enter this new phase of life. This means taking what we have all learned while in quarantine – whether it be workout routines, recipes, or racial injustices – and applying this knowledge outside of our homes. Get excited about continuing your workout routine by adorning some new athletic-wear (and a mask, of course!) while following CDC guidelines. Be sure to check out these brands and let us know what other athleisure brands you’re loving.

KEM – LOVE ALWAYS WINS

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“In an era when musicians routinely throw out an album (or more) a year, Kem is meticulous an Adult R&B mainstay, a slyly expressive singer with a slicing, airy voice and catalog full of tender love songs.”– Rolling Stone

R&B superstar KEM claims the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart this week with his first full-length release in six years, LOVE ALWAYS WINS (Motown). The album which is his third to top the tally contains the hits “Lie to Me,” which spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart, and “Live Out Your Love,” a sultry duet that features GRAMMY Award-winning soul songstress Toni Braxton. Download/stream HERE.

LOVE ALWAYS WINS is a powerful testament to KEM’s hopeful outlook despite current times, a reminder of the power of love and a project he calls his most personal yet. Other standout songs on the album include the lush title track, “Love Always Wins,” featuring GRAMMY-winning gospel music powerhouse Erica Campbell, and the inspiring “Friend Today” both reminiscent of the music birthed out of social justice movements. The album was co-produced by KEM and Derek “DOA” Allen, and features contributions by musical notables such as Anthony Hamilton, Brian Culbertson, James Poyser and Salaam Remi.

In this recent feature, Rolling Stone notes, “In an era when musicians routinely throw out an album (or more) a year, Kem is meticulous, an Adult R&B mainstay, a slyly expressive singer with a slicing, airy voice and catalog full of tender love songs.”

Billboard observes, “Love Always Wins peppers the Grammy-nominated artist’s smooth, grown and sexy signature sound with more up-tempo flavor, prominent guitar accents and franker lyrical insights.”

The Detroit Free Press says, “On new Kem album, the romantic heart is still beating but he’s got free inspiration too.”

LOVE ALWAYS WINS is the follow-up to KEM’s 2014 album, PROMISE TO LOVE, which also debuted at No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It contained the hit singles “Nobody” and “It’s You,” which each spent multiple weeks atop the Urban Adult Contemporary radio charts. The internationally renowned R&B singer/songwriter has to his credit: one Platinum album (KEM: ALBUM II), two Gold albums (KEMISTRY and INTIMACY), three GRAMMY nominations and seven No. 1 singles. In addition, KEM has been nominated for six NAACP Image Awards, two Soul Train Awards and a BET Centric Award.

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Live Nation Urban – #WellnessEdition

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In light of National Suicide Prevention and Self-Care Awareness Month, Live Nation Urban is spending September bringing people #WellnessEdition, to promote and showcase resources strengthening wellness and well-being. Through various content and live talks with mental health and wellness advocates, Live Nation Urban hopes to bridge the work of Black executives with the importance of staying grounded.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine orders, Live Nation Urban has been at the forefront of creating live-at-home digital experiences within the music industry. Meet the Founders, a live interview series, has spotlighted Black founders, executives, and staff from various brands on building out their experiences and careers within the music industry.

As a part of their Wellness Month programming, Live Nation Urban hopes to create wholesome spaces for self-care, healing and people’s well-being during these unprecedented times. Produced content will include self-care, music, playlists (available on all platforms), healthy meal ideas, and general wellness tips. Additionally, Meet the Founders will feature a variety of mental health and self-care professionals. Featured guests include, Tasnim Sulaiman (Founder of Black Men Heal), Tiffany Hardin(Founder of Gild Creative Group and Director of Strategic Partnerships & Business Development of Black Girl In Om), Darian Hall (Co-Founder of HealHaus), and Eboni Harris (Co-Founder of Melanin & Mental Health).

About Live Nation Urban

Live Nation Urban (LNU) is a partnership with Live Nation Entertainment, the world’s leading live entertainment company. Specifically focusing on Hip-Hop, R&B and Gospel, LNU builds platforms, events, and festivals globally and develops dynamic content strategies based upon the live properties created. Live Nation Urban considers itself the most powerful source for live urban music. For additional information, click HERE.