Posts made in November 2021

health illustration for 360 Magazine

Twelve Health Benefits of Ginger

Many people get into homeopathy to assist with ongoing conditions. Although medication and advice from your doctor could make life more comfortable, adding all-natural remedies to your treatment plan could result in more significant results. Check out these 12 health benefits of ginger and how to use ginger for whatever ailments you must address.

1. It Helps With Nausea

You don’t have to be sick to feel nauseous. Pregnant women battle morning sickness and sometimes nausea is a side effect for people starting a new medication. Either way, adding ginger to hot tea or cold drinks will relieve your upset stomach if used in small amounts, like a quarter of a teaspoon. Large doses could cause stomach cramps.

2. It Reduces Cellular Inflammation

Inflammation results from many conditions, like illnesses and stress. Ginger will reduce or eliminate the inflammation and put your body more at ease. It was highly effective in a study regarding inflamed lung lining in asthma patients, so it will have the same cellular effects when ingested in a meal or drink. Ongoing cellular inflammation hurts your health and well-being, but Ginger can become a powerful dietary component in preventing discomfort by aiding your cells.

3. It Could Lower Blood Sugar

A study that followed participants who took 2,000-milligram (mg) supplements every day saw that ginger had positive effects on blood sugar tests for people with Type 2 diabetes. It may anchor your blood sugar in addition to your ongoing diabetes treatments. All-natural supplements are available at most pharmacies, but talk with your doctor before taking any to ensure it’s safe for medical conditions.

4. It Might Help With Weight Loss

Ginger often comes up in conversation with people who want to lose weight. A recent literature review found that it successfully repeated weight loss results in 14 studies. It could help rev your metabolism and get you back on track. Mix it into your shakes or make delicious ginger-focused recipes like chawanmushi. This Japanese egg custard uses a ginger sauce to diversify your flavor palette and make the keto-friendly dish an Instagram-worthy meal.

5. It Can Lower Heart Disease Risks

Heart disease is often a genetic condition, so you might not be able to avoid it altogether. However, if you use ginger every day, it might make the risk of developing heart disease early in life a less likely possibility. When it seeps into your bloodstream through your digestive tract, it improves your blood lipid levels and lowers your risk of heart conditions.

6. It Eases Osteoarthritis Symptoms

Osteoarthritis affects the degeneration of your joints. It might come as a surprise that ginger can help with this condition as well. People with osteoarthritis in their knees experienced significant pain relief after using topical ginger ointments. Whether taken orally or topically, ginger could be a great addition to your pain treatment because it’s so effective at reducing inflammation that triggers pain.

7. It Comforts People With Digestive Problems

Some digestive problems occur because a person’s stomach lining becomes irritated. Ginger soothes any resulting inflammation to ease symptoms like cramping. It also tackles nausea, so sip on warm ginger tea to soothe digestive problems whenever they occur. You could also add ginger oil to a drink if you don’t enjoy the powder in your beverages.

8. It Might Prevent Cancer

When you buy ginger at the grocery store, it doesn’t look like something powerful enough to fight cancer. It’s always wise to follow your doctor’s advice for a cancer diagnosis and treatment plan, but adding more ginger to your diet could help your outcome.

Researchers closely analyzed ginger’s effect on cancer patients and found that 6-gingerol destroys cancer cells when found naturally in the whole herb, instead of in oil or powdered form. The results will be much smaller than what happens during chemo treatments, but it can be an additional step for anyone fighting cancer or trying to stay in remission.

9. It Lowers Cholesterol Levels

What can 5 grams of ginger do for you? When taken every day, it might lower your cholesterol. Patients with hyperlipidemia who added that much ginger to their diet through supplements saw their low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol drop by 17.3% throughout the three-month study. It’s helpful for people trying to improve their health alongside prescribed treatments.

10. It Relieves Menstrual Pain

The clinical term for menstrual pain is dysmenorrhea. People who experience this pain often take over-the-counter medications to feel more comfortable, but ginger can also help. Study participants who took ginger supplements had the same pain relief as those who took the painkiller Novafen.

This natural herbal remedy is perfect for anyone still in pain after taking the recommended amount of medication. Try it in a hot drink to soothe tense muscles that might be sore after reacting to long-term pain.

11. It Battles Infections

When you picture an infection, you might think about a cut on your arm or leg. Infections also happen inside organs, which is when ginger can help. People have always used it for its antibacterial properties, but a recent study proved that ginger oil treats internal infections when taken orally. Depending on how you would most enjoy the flavor, you could add it to meals, salad dressings, shakes, or hot drinks.

12. It Could Fight Alzheimer’s Disease

People who have Alzheimer’s have an abnormal buildup of protein in their brains. It creates a plaque that worsens memory loss and other symptoms. When those same people put more ginger in their diet, it eased their ongoing symptoms because the anti-inflammatory properties reduced plaque buildup.

Sometimes doctors recommend taking ginger supplements or using ginger oil when someone receives an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. It can slow the progression and give people more time with their loved ones, if used in addition to other medications or treatments.

Learn the Health Benefits of Ginger

Anyone can learn how to use ginger to improve their wellness. First, you have to read about the health benefits of ginger to determine which benefits would help you the most. Then you can work with your doctor to supplement any medications or treatments with the proper dosage of ginger.

Headphones graphic via Heather Skovlund for use by 360 Magazine

Kyle Banks × Bino Rideaux – On Me

R&B artist Kyle Banks features fellow LA musician and Def Jam artist Bino Rideaux for his latest single “On Me.” The single is out now via Red Bull Records, stream HERE. The recent drop of “On Me” is the latest from Banks’ upcoming EP Uncommon, set to release in early 2022.

Banks discusses his creative vision for the track, stating “On Me” is about feeling good, feeling fly. When you’re stepping out with your crew for the night, you got that sauce on you, and you’re attracting attention.” The West Coast inspired beat on the track is produced by Grammy-nominated producer Meez and Travis Marsh.

Banks joins Roc Nation recording artist Kalan.FrFr this fall for his West Coast tour TwoFR Tour. Banks supports Kalan.FrFr on stops in Sacramento, Oakland, San Diego and more throughout November. The tour is scheduled to conclude in back-to-back hometown shows at Los Angeles’ The Novo. Tour dates are below, and to purchase tickets visit https://kalanfrfr.com.

TwoFR 2021 North American Tour Dates

Nov 6 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Atrium (at Catalyst) *
Nov 7 – Fresno, CA @ Strummer’s *
Nov 12 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
Nov 13 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos
Nov 14 – Las Vegas, NV @ Day N Vegas Festival
Nov 16 – Sacramento, CA @ Harlow’s *
Nov 17 – Oakland, CA @ New Parish *
Nov 20 – Phoenix, AZ @ Aura *
Nov 21 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues *
Nov 23 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Novo *
Nov 24 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Novo *
* – Date featuring Kyle Banks

Get Tiny for use by 360 Magazine

Northern Nights Cannabis Music Festival

Forerunners in the music meets cannabis industry Northern Nights recently announced the lineup for their highly anticipated return to Cook’s Valley Campground in California from July 15- 17, with tickets on sale now. This will become the first music festival to have legal onsite cannabis sales and consumption.

Attendees of the festival can hang out or float through the river that runs through the festival while listening to their favorite artists, enjoy sets and camp while lighting up and purchasing cannabis in the Tree Lounge. The festival will have a surplus of enjoyable activities going on, including cannabis yoga. The lineup includes Dirtybird founder Claude VonStroke, genre-blending producer TroyBoi, UK phenom Elderbrook, Los Angeles house favorite J. Worra and more.

Northern Nights has also announced they will be hosting a takeover of the Redwood Stage at The Emerald Cup Harvest Ball from Dec 11- 12 at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rose, California. This event consists of performances from Mr. Carmack, Random Rab, Dirtwire, SOOHAN, Sidecar Tommy (of Beats Antique) and A Hundred Drums.

Rita Azar for use by 360 Magazine

Laverne Cox × People’s Choice Awards

Laverne Cox is set to host “Live from E!: 2021 People’s Choice Awards” multiplatform red carpet experience. You can tune into “Live from E!: People’s Choice Awards” when it airs live on Tuesday, December 7th at 7pm ET/ 4pm PT on E! from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California.

Laverne is set to interview, celebrate and generate a remarkable experience with all of the honorees and celebrities in attendance. The show is set to commemorate and honor all forms of entertainment, exclusively chosen by the public. “Live from E!: 2021 People’s Choice Awards” will provide an extensive amount of content from the show, on digital and across mobile and social.

Vote for the People’s Choice Awards HERE or on Twitter.

About Laverne Cox

Laverne is a four-time Emmy-nominated actress and Emmy winning producer. Known for her landmark role of Sophia Burset in Netflix original series Orange is the New Black,” Laverne has had a groundbreaking career. The role of Sophia Burset helped Laverne become the first openly transgender woman of color to have a lead role on a mainstream scripted television series. She can also be seen in the Oscar-winning film Promising Young Woman,” hosting The Laverne Cox Show podcast and as an Executive Producer of the documentary Disclosure.

bby kodie cover art by Capitol Music Group and Motown Records for use by 360 Magazine

BBY KODIE – EMOTIONS RUNNING HIGH

BBY KODIE’S NEW MIXTAPE, EMOTIONS RUNNING HIGH, IS OUT TODAY

“BBY Kodie has described himself as Houston’s answer to Drake and it’s increasingly clear how serious he is.” – Rolling Stone

Today, BBY Kodie released his new mixtape, Emotions Running High, via True Panther/EQT/Motown Records. The 20-year-old rapper-producer wrote and recorded each of the 15 tracks at his Houston studio. On his most ambitious work to date, Kodie is at his cockiest, letting off bold lifestyle raps as his beats rubberband between shimmering synths, bass wobbles and saxophone riffs. See below for track listing.

In the lead-up to the mixtape’s release, Kodie shared two tracks: “Started This” and “Children.Houstonia said, “‘Started This’ sets the record straight that he’s an innovator in the music industry.” Placing “Children” on its “Best New Songs” playlist, The FADER noted, “His cool demeanor is even more vicious over the song’s beat, which at times resembles a panicked alarm in an underground bunker. Still, there’s no escape from Kodie’s onslaught.” Earmilk observed, “‘it’s an unquestionably hard, Southern rap song in which he oozes confidence and makes every bar more impactful than the last…he puts together undeniably great music that is impossible to compare.” View the Caravaggio-inspired video for “Children.” 

Albums like 2018’s Kodie Kardashian and 2019’s Vogue marked gradual steps away from the innocent charm of Kodie’s earlier songs towards a more polished artistic vision that coalesces on Emotions Running High.

“It’s just constant evolution,” Kodie says. “Last year to this year, I’ve been mostly listening to ambient soundtracks, movie soundtracks, Max Richter, Hans Zimmer.” On “Solemn,” a soaring choir intro dissolves into violins plucking and bowing around 808s and hi-hats.  

Rolling Stone said, “BBY Kodie has described himself as Houston’s answer to Drake and it’s increasingly clear how serious he is.” The city has been central to his development as an artist – he played his first-ever show in Houston and began his now infamous Halloween shows there as well. With his Raven House collective, Kodie is working to usher in a new Houston sound that simultaneously pays homage to the city’s pioneers and fosters innovation.

For Kodie, putting words together is an art form based in the Texas lineage of flexing and freestyling. ”When you grow up on that shit, it just gets embedded in your skin,” he says. “It’s like putting the ugliest words on the most beautiful beats.” 

From the start, Kodie has established himself as a rare, self-contained entity in the music world, an auteur who takes the reins across every element – from music to visuals to merchandise – to further his unique artistic vision. If Events is just a taste of what’s to come, then the future is unbelievably bright for Houston’s next star. 

Track Listing – Emotions Running High

  1. Pain Passion Fortune
  2. This Is Forever
  3. Champagne Fights
  4. Blind
  5. 30 Below
  6. How Chandeliers Are Made
  7. In The Moment
  8. Heritage
  9. Politics
  10. Started This
  11. Arose Out The Fire
  12. Solemn
  13. Stretch
  14. Survival
  15. Children
Jean-Michel Basquia image for use by 360 magazine

BASQUIAT × NFT’s × TRILLER = HISTORY

Triller × The Bishop Gallery: Triller brings The Bishop Gallery to Miami and disrupts Art Basel with Week-Long Basquiat Exhibit and Historic First-Ever Live NFT Auction of Rare Photos of Jean-Michel

Opening on Monday, November 29 through December 4 and located at the new BLK Miami, Triller will upend the event game again. This time at Art Basel with programming to showcase art, music, and now, the explosion of NFT culture.

A significant highlight of the event, and arguably for all of Art Basel, for the first time in Miami, the world will see Basquiat, personally and intimately like never before, with the Our Friend, Jean exhibition curated by The Bishop Gallery and hosted by Triller, a trailblazing, AI-powered global platform. Together they will serve up Miami’s finest at this first-ever physical and digital curated experience that will focus on what’s sure to be a historic NFT auction during a week-long art exhibition of the legendary Neo-expressionist artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Throughout the week, Triller promises extraordinary experiences. The once in a lifetime event will feature digital and physical auctions, celebrity guest speakers, live painting, surprise NFT drops, pop-ups, integrations, live musical performances, first-look opportunities, gallery exhibits with artists like Cory Van Lew, CryptoPunks, and Punk Me Tender, private walk-throughs, live discussions with Basquiat’s long-time friends, along with exclusive VIP events.\

Taking place in Wynwood at BLK Studios, located at 2060 NW 1st Ave, Miami, FL, the event will highlight some of the earliest artworks created by America’s Most Influential Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. His record-breaking sales continue to fascinate the world – and remain influential in the cultural sphere as Tiffany & Co. featured Jay Z and Beyonce posing in front of a never-seen-before canvas for their recent advertising campaign.

Starting Monday, November 29, in partnership with The Bishop Gallery, Triller will host the exclusive experience showing works curated by The Bishop Gallery from Jean-Michel Basquiat. These artworks will be on loan from collectors who knew Jean-Michel as friends, including Alexis Adler, Basquiat’s friend, roommate and Al Diaz, Co-Creator of SAMO©. Their rare photographs collection shines a light on Basquiat’s personal life like never before. They will be sharing their remembrances and untold stories about their friendship with Basquiat throughout the week. Guests can register for an invite for free here.

During the immersive gallery experience, Our Friend Jean, there will be live discussions with Basquiat’s close friends and people who knew him personally. A total of 20 plus works will be displayed, including drawings, writings, apparel, and mixed media collages. The group of collectors consists of Jane Diaz, Hilary Jaeger, Katie Taylor, Lucy Sante, and photographer Alexis Adler who also served as co-curator. Through these works, each collector will be sharing uniquely intimate stories of their friend, Jean.

Happening on Friday, December 3, Our Friend Jean NFT Auction, is an exclusive event of art, music along with a LIVE NFT AUCTION experience. For the first time, an incredible selection of NFT drops featuring rare and personal photos of Basquiat will be available on the Trillernfts.com marketplace with exclusive previews and purchase opportunities onsite. In addition to the auction, there will be several central stage moments, a physical donation of an NFT. The Bishop Gallery chose the TrillerNFT marketplace because the Triller platform has been specifically engineered to minimize the minting process’s computing costs and complexities to reduce the carbon footprint effects.

This partnership signals Triller’s longstanding tradition to celebrate the disruptors and serve as the catalyst for creativity. The increasing popularity of NFTs proves they are indisputably the art vehicle of the future. The artist Beeple‘s sale of his NFT digital collage astounded the world and had global repercussions when it sold for a record-smashing 69 million dollars at Christie’s in March. With this announcement, Triller is poised to be the destination for the most exclusive NFT sales and drops.

After Art Basel, Triller x The Bishop Gallery will present the “Our Friend, Jean: HBCU Tour,” the exhibition will embark on a tour to eight HBCU (Historically Black Colleges/Universities) schools. The tour will kick off in early 2022 and land in eight cities, where Alexis Adler will appear to share the works from the Alexis Adler Archive, featuring works from Basquiat and potential art donations to the schools.

This year will mark an influential time for Triller, as they cap off a year of incredible events within the art and cultural community, allowing both recognized and up-and-coming talent to utilize the platform to present their creativity, whether it be through art or music. Speaking of influence, securing this historic drop will make Triller a lead in the marketplace.

About The Bishop Gallery

The Bishop Gallery was founded in 2009 by Erwin S. John and Stevenson A. Dunn, Jr.; the Bed-Stuy gallery is committed to making the arts accessible. In 2016 The Bishop Gallery became the first Gallery outside of the Brooklyn Museum to show a solo exhibition of Basquiat in his hometown of Brooklyn in over 30 years. The Bishop Gallery has produced a total of 6 public solo exhibitions with artwork by Jean-Michel Basquiat, including two which were featured on the front page of “The Art Newspaper” during Art Basel (Switzerland, 2018) and Miami Art Basel (Miami, 2016). They most recently organized a gift of the first Jean-Michel Basquiat artwork to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. The Bishop Gallery plans to bring a permanent collection of Basquiat’s work to Brooklyn, making his work forever accessible in JMB’s hometown.

About Triller

Triller is the AI-powered global platform driving engagement and monetization for creators. TrillerNet owns Triller.

About TrillerNet

TrillerNet is a first-of-its-kind company consolidating technology and content platforms to lead the move to Internet 3.0. TrillerNet pairs the music culture with sports, fashion, entertainment, and influencers through a 360-degree view of content and technology. TrillerNet owns the globally popular Triller app used by musicians, celebrities, athletes, and overall culture setters, reaching more than 350 million users worldwide. The Triller app—unlike other popular short-video apps—encourages its influencers to post the content created on the app across other social media platforms—and uses proprietary AI technology to push and track their content virally to affiliated and non-affiliated sites and networks, reaching millions of additional users. TrillerNet additionally owns Verzuz, the live-stream music platform launched by Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, leading customer engagement platform Amplify.ai, and FITE, the premier PPV, AVOD, and SVOD streaming site.

Eagles of Death Metal × Christmas

Today, November 19, UMe and Eagles Of Death Metal’s Jesse Boots Electric Hughes join forces to gift us all with Eagles of Death Metal Presents A Boots Electric Christmas, a six-track EP sure to bring much needed holiday cheer to the ears and hearts of every little girl and boy. The EP is available now on CD and all digital formats.

Hughes puts his signature aural alter-ego Boots Electric stamp on a half-dozen electrified interpretations of perennial holiday classics that include God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Put A Little Love In Your Heart, O Holy Night, Little Drummer Boy, and Little Town Of Bethlehem. The sonic highlight rounding out the EP is an extraordinary, and quite stirring, a cappella rendition of O Holy Night featuring Hughes and EODM bandmate Joshua Homme on vocals.

Just a few songs to warm your heart during Christmas time. I hope you like them. May Christmas bring peace to you all. Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, I love you, and God bless you all. Hughes said of this new, winter-wonderful holiday EP.

Order Eagles of Death Metal Presents A Boots Electric Christmas HERE now.

Eagles of Death Metal are also pleased to announce the second leg of their upcoming 24th Anniversary Tour, which will take place across Europe next March & April. The previously announced first leg of the tour kicks off in Brighton, UK on November 22, 2021, with special guest Bones UK. Ticketing information can be found HERE.

Concertgoers will also be able to purchase bottles of Eagles of Death Metal: Shrieking in Tongues, EODM’s own brand of cherry-cola and habanero-flavored BBQ hot sauce as made by Dean of the Dead Hot Sauce. Shrieking in Tongues will be available for purchase onsite at each European venue as a tour-merch exclusive.

Eagles of Death Metal Presents A Boots Electric Christmas arrives just in time for the holidays, with six new recordings sure to arouse everyone’s holiday spirits. Order Eagles of Death Metal Presents A Boots Electric Christmas HERE.

EAGLES OF DEATH METAL PRESENTS A BOOTS ELECTRIC CHRISTMAS

[CD + digital]

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Put A Little Love In Your Heart

O Holy Night

Little Drummer Boy

Little Town Of Bethlehem

O Holy Night (A Cappella)

EAGLES OF DEATH METAL: THE 24TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR 2021-22 EUROPEAN TOUR DATES (WITH SPECIAL GUESTS BONES)

2021

November 22              Brighton, UK                           Chalk

November 23              Cardiff, Wales                         Tramshed

November 24              Newcastle, UK                         University

November 26              Birmingham, UK                      02 Institute

November 27              Dublin, Ireland                        Academy

November 28              Belfast, Ireland                       Limelight

November 29              Glasgow, Scotland                 SWG3 Galzanisers

December 1                Leeds, UK                              Beckett University

December 2                London, UK                            Roundhouse

December 3                Nottingham, UK                      Rock City

December 5                Manchester, UK                      02 Ritz

December 6                Bristol, UK                               02 Academy

2022

March 19                     Zurich, Switzerland                 Komplex

March 20                     Stuttgart, Germany                 LKA-Longhorn

March 21                     Milan, Italy                               Alcatraz

March 22                     Vienna, Austria                       Simm City

March 24                     Budapest, Hungary                 Akvarium Klub

March 25                     Zagreb, Croatia                      Culture Factory

March 27                     Prague, Czech Republic         Lucerna Music Bar

March 28                     Munich, Germany                   Backstage Werk

March 30                     Bremen, Germany                  Modernes

March 31                     Copenhagen, Denmark          Amager Bio

April 1                          Oslo, Norway                          Sentrum Scene

April 2                          Gothenburg, Sweden              Pustervik

April 4                          Stockholm, Sweden                Slaktkrykan

April 6                          Tallinn, Estonia                       Helitehas

April 7                          Riga, Latvia                            Palladium

April 9                          Warsaw, Poland                     Stodola

April 10                        Berlin, Germany                     Huxleys

April 11                        Hamburg, Germany                Fabrik

April 13                        Manster, Germany                  Skaters Palace

April 14                        Amsterdam, Netherlands        Melkweg

April 16                        Cologne, Germany                 Live Music Hall

April 18                        Besancon, France                  La Rodia

April 20                        Barcelona, Spain                    Razzmatazz

April 21                        Madrid, Spain                         Sala La Riviera

April 22                        Lisbon, Portugal                     Coliseum

April 23                        Santiago, Spain                      Sala Capitol

April 25                        Bordeaux, France                   La Krakatoa

April 26                        Paris, France                          Olympia

April 27                        Antwerp, Belgium                    Trix

April 28                        Luxembourg, Luxembourg       Den Atelier

April 30                        Blandford Forum, UK               Teddy Rocks Festival

for use by 360 Magazine

Benee – New World Tour

Today, New Zealand’s platinum sensation BENEE announces her first foray out into the world since the pandemic struck with her 2022 headline world tour. The North American leg kicks off on May 31st in Montreal and makes stops in Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and more—see the full list of dates below and HERE The 21-year-old artist broke through with “Supalonely,” her global hit with nearly 4 billion streams, and like many artists has had to wait for a chance to tour outside of her home country again. Next year’s tour will be BENEE’s first time playing shows in North America since 2019.

Tickets will go on sale this week, beginning with a fan pre-sale tomorrow, November 16th at 9AM local time, Spotify pre-sale on Wednesday, November 17th at 9AM local time, promoter pre-sale on Thursday, November 18th at 9AM local time, and general on-sale on Friday, November 19th at 9AM local time.

“I am beyond excited to announce that my WORLD TOUR KICKS OFF next year!!!!!!!!!,” says BENEE. “It’s been such a long time coming & we’ve lived through a lot in these weird times but shows starting up again has rly got everyone sosososodo happyyy!!!! I can’t wait to get back out there & meet all of u and play a bunch of new musiiiiiicccc!!”

“I AM SO READY TO TOUR!!,” she exclaims. “Doing shows with my band is the best thing and I have missed it so badly this year. Waiting, rescheduling, waiting again has been incredibly difficult.”

BENEE recently made a momentous return with her new single “Doesn’t Matter,” her first new music since 2020’s debut album Hey u x. The song is a deeply revealing track that reflects the singer’s journey through the emotional clatter of 2021. The track is off to a flying start, streaming over 1 million times in its first week and receiving praise from the likes of Billboard, Entertainment Tonight, Ones To Watch, PAPER Magazine, Stereogum, UPROXX, V Magazine, and many more.

BENEE’s dreamy alt-pop mixes her deeply heartfelt reflections on life in suburban Auckland, New Zealand with offbeat and often whimsical lyrical encounters with zombies and snails, all produced with a technicolor ear for cooked beats and unpredictable hooks. Hey u x is a vibrant musical world with guests ranging from Grimes and Lily Allen to Gus Dapperton and Muroki (another New Zealand teen BENEE has since signed to her own label, Olive). It was listed as one of Billboard’s “25 Best Pop Albums of 2020,” noting that BENEE “contemplates the woes of Gen Z with a keen ear for choruses and arrangements that oscillate between indie rock and hyperpop.” Stereogum praised its “quirky but impeccably produced pop music” and Vogue called it “13 tracks of heavenly indie-alt-pop.”

A forthcoming EP release leads into plans for 2022 with the thing that excites BENEE the most—a hefty touring schedule that will bring her live show to adoring fans around the world at last.

BENEE 2022 WORLD TOUR

NORTH AMERICA – with special guest Dreamer Boy

May 31            Montreal, QC              Corona Theatre
June 1             Toronto, ON                Phoenix Concert Theatre
June  3            Minneapolis, MN         First Avenue
June 4             Chicago, IL                 Vic Theatre
June 6             Detroit, MI                   St. Andrew’s Hall
June 7             Columbus, OH            Newport Music Hall
June 8             Washington, DC         9:30 Club
June 14           Boston, MA                 House of Blues
June 15           Philadelphia, PA         Theatre of Living Arts
June 17           Atlanta, GA                 Variety Playhouse
June 21           Englewood, CO          Gothic Theatre
June 22           Salt Lake City, UT      The Depot
June 24           Seattle, WA                 The Showbox
June 25           Portland, OR               Crystal Ballroom
June 26           Vancouver, BC           Vogue Theatre
June 28           San Francisco, CA     The Warfield Theatre
June 30           Los Angeles, CA         The Novo

Shoes Illustration by Samantha Miduri for use by 360 Magazine

Tenth Annual Municipal Equality Index Released

In tenth edition of Municipal Equality Index, a record-setting number of 100 point scores and the highest-ever national average show that localities continue to lead the way on LGBTQ+ inclusion

Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, in partnership with The Equality Federation, released its 10th annual Municipal Equality Index (MEI), the only nationwide assessment of LGBTQ+ equality regarding municipal policies, laws and services. This year, a record-breaking 110 cities earned the highest score of 100, which is up from 11 in 2012, the MEI’s inaugural year, illustrating the striking advancements municipalities have made over the past 10 years.

In North Carolina, Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Durham, Greensboro and Winston-Salem are setting a true example for equality and inclusion by earning one of HRC’s MEI “All-Star” designations. MEI All-Stars earned over 85 points despite hailing from a state without statewide non-discrimination statutes that explicitly include sexual orientation and gender identity. The average score for cities in North Carolina is 71 out of 100 points, which falls 4 above the national average of 67.

“LGBTQ+ people are everywhere—in every city, county and ZIP code. These All-Star cities are blazing the path forward for equality and fighting back against extreme unrelenting attacks on the LGBTQ+ community.” said JoDee Winterhof, Human Rights Campaign Senior Vice President of Policy and Political Affairs. “This year, state-wide lawmakers have zeroed in on attacking transgender and non-binary children—for no clear reason other than bigotry and hate. Adopting the policies outlined in the MEI have not only fostered safer and more inclusive communities, but it has also spurred economic growth by showcasing to residents, visitors and outside investors that their city is open to everyone.”

“In reflecting on the Municipal Equality Index’s 10-year history, it feels as though these past few years have been the most challenging, and yet the most critical, to advancing LGBTQ+ equality. Despite the increasing attacks we are seeing on transgender youth in state legislatures, the important work to advance protections for LGBTQ+ people continues at the local level,” said Fran Hutchins, Executive Director of Equality Federation Institute. “As we face the upcoming attacks by opponents of equality, we know the state-based movement is stronger than ever and ready to fight for the millions of LGBTQ+ Americans who need us in the towns and cities across this country.”

The report also contains an issue brief for policymakers that covers how municipalities can support transgender and non-binary individuals, as well as the types of challenges they face, ways that a city can support them, and guidance on forming an anti-transgender and non-binary violence prevention task force. Additionally, the report includes HRC’s Pledge for Local Elected Leaders to End Violence Against Black and Brown Transgender Women.

“For 10 incredible years, the MEI has helped guide, shape and inspire more inclusive laws and policies in cities of all sizes in all parts of the country,” said Cathryn Oakley, State Legislative Director & Senior Counsel for the Human Rights Campaign and Founding Author of the Municipal Equality Index. “This program is one of the key ways HRC is able to impact the daily lives of our members, supporters and allies. Being able to personally witness these communities continue to push themselves to better serve their LGBTQ+ communities over the years has been one of my greatest joys. I am incredibly proud of this project and of the MEI team who have made this report a vehicle of enduring change and of our partners in communities around the country who have enthusiastically embraced its possibilities.” 

Other significant findings from the 2021 MEI include:

  • This year, 181 cities have transgender-inclusive healthcare benefits for municipal employees—up from 179 in 2020, despite more rigorous standards this year, and only five at the start of the MEI.
  • The national city score average jumped to an all-time high of 67 points, up from 64 last year and 59 in 2012, marking both the fourth consecutive year of national average increases as well as the highest year-over-year national average growth ever.
    • As a marker of the change that ten editions of the MEI have brought, cities rated by the MEI in 2012 averaged 59 points then; in 2021, those cities averaged 85 points. 
    • 11 cities scored 100 points in the 2012 MEI; ten times that number did so in 2021, the tenth edition.
  • Cities around the country saw progress, with every region of the country seeing a higher average score than last year.
  • 43 municipalities have anti-conversion therapy ordinances in states with no state-level protections, up from 38 last year.
  • The tenth edition of the MEI tells a story of sustained, transformational growth in cities of every size in every region of the country.  While state legislatures attacked LGBTQ+ people in a historically difficult legislative session, cities focused on solving actual problems.

Even though local leaders continue to pave the way forward on equality, there remains an unacceptable patchwork of laws for LGBTQ+ people across the country. This reinforces the need for the federal Equality Act that would provide consistent and explicit non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people across key areas of life, including employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service.

The MEI rated 506 cities including the 50 state capitals, the 200 largest cities in the U.S., the five largest cities or municipalities in each state, the cities home to the state’s two largest public universities, the 75 municipalities that have high proportions of same-sex couples and 98 cities selected by HRC and Equality Federation state group members and supporters. It assesses each city on 49 criteria covering citywide non-discrimination protections, policies for municipal employees, city services, law enforcement and the city’s leadership on LGBTQ+ equality.

Carrboro North Carolina 84
Cary North Carolina 12
Chapel Hill North Carolina 100
Charlotte North Carolina 86
Durham North Carolina 100
Fayetteville North Carolina 39
Greensboro North Carolina 100
Raleigh North Carolina 69
Wilmington North Carolina 36
Winston-Salem North Carolina 87

The full report, including detailed scorecards for every city, as well as a searchable database, is available online here.

ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN 

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the public’s understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work.

single artwork image for use by 360 magazine

ALESSO – SOMEBODY TO USE

Today marks the premiere of “Somebody To Use,” the exhilarating new single from GRAMMY-nominated producer/dance artist Alesso. “Somebody To Use” comes with a toxic mix ready for the clubs too. Watch the new video HERE.

In a glorious moment of worlds colliding, “Somebody To Use” once again proves Alesso’s incredible talent for merging the massively catchy melodies and raw emotion of pop with the forward-thinking sound design of boundary-pushing dance music. Built on a heavenly backdrop of glistening synth and gorgeously cascading beats, the track surges forward with an unstoppable energy paired with velvety vocals. The result: a full-tilt anthem that invites both total surrender and pure catharsis. Already familiar to fans, Alesso has teased and performed the highly anticipated “Somebody to Use” on his sets for the past two years.

“Somebody To Use” arrives as the follow-up to “Chasing Stars,” Alesso’s collaboration with Marshmello, featuring GRAMMY-nominated singer/songwriter/guitarist James Bay. Soon after premiering in August alongside a beautifully surreal video directed by Jake Jelicich (Dua Lipa, Niall Horan), “Chasing Stars” shot to #10 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs Chart, ultimately spending 11 weeks there. The original track was followed by a VIP mix from Alesso (available HERE) and the breathtakingly intimate ”Chasing Stars (Stripped) [feat. James Bay]” (listen HERE).

Aside from “Chasing Stars” Alesso takes part in the Blade Runner: Black Lotus Soundtrack with Danna Paola on “Rescue Me“ and recently partnered with OneOf – the green NFT platform built for the music community – to release his debut NFT collection “Cosmic Genesis.”

ABOUT ALESSO

A global maverick in the dance world, Alesso has repeatedly proven that his influence transcends boundaries and crosses over into countless genres to that end, he’s collaborated with such eclectic artists as OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder, Calvin Harris, Tove Lo, Liam Payne, Swedish House Mafia’s Sebastian Ingrosso, Hailee Steinfeld, Florida Georgia Line, Anitta, and more. With his past hits including the platinum-certified “If I Lose Myself“ and gold-certified “Under Control,” the Sweden native has also found major success with “Calling (Lose My Mind),” which topped the Billboard US Hot Dance Club Songs chart. On Billboard’s Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart, his massive breakup anthem “Let Me Go” collaboration with Hailee Steinfeld and Florida Georgia Line reached No. 9, while “Is That Me” peaked at No. 25. In 2020, he released a pair of hit singles: “Midnight,” featuring former One Direction member Liam Payne, and “THE END“ with goth-pop singer/songwriter Charlotte Lawrence. To date, he’s performed at international festivals ranging from Tomorrowland to Ultra Music Festival to Electric Daisy Carnival, with his national TV experience including closing out GMA’s Summer Concert Series, performing on The Late Late Show with James Corden, and taking the stage at the AMAs.