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Johnson Controls to Speak at Leaders Summit on Climate

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President Biden invites Johnson Controls’ CEO to speak at Leaders Summit on Climate

George Oliver to address role of U.S. business community in supporting ambitious climate action and policy, and in creating jobs and economic growth
Biden calls for urgent dialogue on ways to strengthen collective efforts to address climate crisis
Summit to explore economic benefits of green recovery and long-term decarbonization

Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), the global leader for smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, announced that its chairman and CEO George Oliver has been invited by U.S. President Joe Biden to participate in the virtual Leaders Summit on Climate.

The summit will bring together leaders of the world’s major economies and other vital partners for an urgent and open dialogue on ways to strengthen collective efforts to address the climate crisis. President Biden has made tackling climate change a top national priority since taking office and is urging other world leaders to attend the summit to discuss how their governments will help drive the goal of limiting global temperature rise.

“I am honored to accept President Biden`s invitation to join him and other world leaders calling for urgent climate action. It is especially important to establish a roadmap to limiting the rise of global temperatures as we get closer to the COP26 climate conference scheduled for November in Glasgow,” said George Oliver, chairman and CEO, Johnson Controls. “Transitioning to a lower-carbon economy is an opportunity to build back better, as we recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. Providing clean, sustainable and energy efficient solutions creates jobs while building strong, resilient, global economies.”

According to the White House, a major theme of the summit will be the broad economic benefits of climate action, with a strong focus on job creation. This will explore both the economic benefits of green recovery and long-term decarbonization and the importance of ensuring that all communities and workers benefit from the transition to a clean energy economy.

Representing both Business Roundtable and Johnson Controls, Oliver will address these topics in a session on April 23 as well as the role buildings can play to slash both emissions and costs.

Business Roundtable is an association of chief executive officers of America’s leading companies. Oliver was named chair of the Business Roundtable Energy & Environment Committee in January this year. The Committee is dedicated to advancing policies that encourage innovation and support an environmentally and economically sustainable future.

The vast majority of Business Roundtable’s 223 member CEOs have made public commitments to reduce their companies’ greenhouse gas emissions/carbon footprints, are making serious progress and reporting on it publicly. Nearly half of those commitments are for net zero carbon emissions by 2050, if not sooner.

Business Roundtable members are playing a significant role in driving ambitious climate action and the policy needed to spur low-carbon economic growth. Last September, the organization endorsed the goals of the Paris Agreement and proposed aggressive policies to achieve those goals.

Johnson Controls own ambitious emissions reductions targets were recently approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative – an independent organization that assesses corporate sustainability claims. As part of its environmental sustainability commitments, Johnson Controls aims to cut operational emissions by 55 percent and reduce customers’ emissions by 16 percent before 2030. Johnson Controls believes its OpenBlue platform for optimizing building sustainability will be central to fulfilling these goals and ultimately creating an environment for healthy people, healthy places and a healthy planet.

The company also recently joined the Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign and is a signatory to The Climate Pledge, an initiative of business leaders co-founded by Amazon and Global Optimism. Signatories to the pledge commit to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2040 – ten years ahead of the Paris Climate Agreement goal.

As a leader in the buildings space for more than 135 years, Johnson Controls has been a pioneer in sustainability and is ranked in the top 12 percent of climate leadership companies globally by CDP. It is on the World’s Most Ethical Companies® Honoree List and is named one of Corporate Knights’ global 100 most Sustainable Companies.

To read more about Johnson Controls’ commitment to sustainability, please visit their website.

About Johnson Controls:

At Johnson Controls (NYSE:JCI) we transform the environments where people live, work, learn and play. As the global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, our mission is to reimagine the performance of buildings to serve people, places and the planet.

With a history of more than 135 years of innovation, Johnson Controls delivers the blueprint of the future for industries such as healthcare, schools, data centers, airports, stadiums, manufacturing and beyond through its comprehensive digital offering OpenBlue. With a global team of 100,000 experts in more than 150 countries, Johnson Controls offers the world`s largest portfolio of building technology, software as well as service solutions with some of the most trusted names in the industry. For more information, visit our website or follow us on Twitter.

Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu Theater Relaunch

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RZA Launches “Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu Theater”, First-of-its-kind Film Screening Platform from 36 Cinema

Heroes Of The East, 1978 Kung Fu Classic–Streaming Saturday, April 24^th with live-commentary from RZA and Dan Halsted

RZA also unveils “Pugilism”, first single from forthcoming solo album

Listen HERE

Last year at the onset of the pandemic, RZA, searching for a creative output and sense of community in the wake of a global shutdown, launched 36 Cinema: a first-of-its-kind film screening platform through his company 36 Chambers. The platform hosted weekly screenings of classic kung fu films (like Shaolin Vs. Wu Tang and Mystery of Chessboxing) and other seminal films (like blaxploitation classic Petey Wheatstraw), with live commentary from RZA and various guests, ranging from directors, actors and critics alike. The platform was met with great enthusiasm from kung fu enthusiasts and cinephiles generally, amassing a steady following and selling over 20k tickets and raising money for independent theaters around the country.

RZA has today announced the official relaunch of 36 Cinema, which will return in force this summer with a brand new slate of programming that he’s dubbed “Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu Theater”. The series kicks off this Saturday (April 24th) at 9pm ET with a screening of the Shaw Brothers classic Heroes Of The East.

RZA will be joined by Dan Halsted, head programmer at the Hollywood Theatre in Portland (and 35mm film archivist), who is also a major kung fu cinema buff in his own right. RZA and Dan hosted several 36 Cinema screenings last year, bringing a wide breadth of knowledge of Asian cinema and providing valuable insights into some of the classic kung fu staple films.

36 Cinema relaunches at a time when martial arts storytelling is having a major revival in popular culture. Just this month, the CW have rolled out the first episodes of Kung Fu, a remake of the cult classic 1970s TV show. From the commercial success of film franchises like The Raid and Kill Bill (which RZA scored incidentally), it’s clear there’s been a renewed interest in kung fu cinema from a western audience since the genre’s glory days. 36 Cinema aims to educate and enlighten a new generation of film lovers, while also catering to an audience of plugged-in kung fu fanatics.

Previous hosts of 36 Cinema screenings include director Jim Jarmusch (Ghost Dog, Coffee and Cigarettes), actor Michael Jai White (Black Dynamite, Tyson, Why Did I Get Married), actor and martial artist Scott Adkins (The Bourne Ultimatum, Zero Dark Thirty etc.), film archivist Warrington Hudlin, comedian Donell Rawlings, stunt actress Shaina West, among others. The platform also partnered with key cultural institutions such as the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art in DC and the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens.

RZA looks forward to bringing on some other notable names to co-host upcoming screenings of Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu Theater throughout the summer. The full run of programming will be revealed in the coming weeks, which will include other seminal films outside of the kung fu genre specifically.

In tandem with the reveal of Saturday Afternoon Kung Fu Theater, RZA has also released a brand new single – Pugilism – his first solo release under the alias Bobby Digital in 13 years (since his 2008 LP Digi Snacks). Pugilism is the first cut from RZA’s fourth album–Bobby Digital: Digital Potions– a follow up to his beloved 1998 debut solo album Bobby Digital In Stereo. RZA will share further details about the album in Saturday’s screening of Heroes Of The East.

Purchase tickets for the Heroes Of The East screening on 36 Cinema HERE

Distribution Partners
36 Cinema has licensing deals in place from the following distributors: Janus Films, AGFA, Magnolia Pictures, Well Go USA, Shaw Brothers Studio and Celestial Pictures.

Kelly Dooley QxA

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Here at 360 Magazine, we were honored to speak with the athleisure pioneer and cannabis queen, Kelly Dooley. With her impressive, luxurious brands–Luxe Branding Haus and BodyRock Sport–Dooley stays busy revolutionizing how athletic wear can empower her customers. When she isn’t designing her avant-garde, fabulous pieces, Dooley can be found working with lifestyle and luxury cannabis brands, as well as involving herself with several real estate and technology projects. Dooley is a trailblazer who sets forth on her dreams with determination and undeniable spunk. We sat down with Kelly Dooley to speak about her recent sports bra design for Britney Spears, her best solutions for combatting stigma surrounding the cannabis industry, and how she finds inspiration.

What was it like creating a bra for superstar Britney Spears? How did you feel when you first found out about the project?

When I first launched BodyRock Sport in January 2010, I had an insatiable desire to beautify activewear for like-minded women that combined fitness and fashion in a way that had not been done before.

The moment that I found out that Britney Spears was rocking my $20,011 Eternal Love Sports Br a from my most popular Zip’ Up collection with the Jessica Moto leggings from my Show ‘Em Some Swagger collection in her comeback “Twister” music video was absolutely surreal. My baby, BodyRock Sport, was on fire. I was breaking all the rules and taking names–one celeb at a time. I was empowering women to love the skin they’re in, while pursuing my dream with reckless abandonment in the heart of New York City.

I neither made the sports bra nor the leggings specifically for her, but due to the intricacy of the design–which included black and silver French silk and a diamond-eyed skull tassel attached to a solid gold zipper pull–and based on the purposely inflated price, I knew that the design would inevitably adorn an A-List celebrity. Britney was on my manifestation list and my dream came true with Godspeed. I was honored and proud of myself for achieving my goal. 2012 represented a dramatic turning point in the overwhelmingly lackluster world of athleisure, and I–the avant-garde, fabulous, over-educated and extremely quirky SoCal girl–was being heralded as one of the pioneers of the activewear industry.

I knew that my Dad was beaming down at me from heaven with pride. I recall getting hundreds of Google alerts because the music video went viral–not only because of the extravagant sports bra that she wore– but also because Britney Spears finally returned to the stage with a vengeance after overcoming her former hardships. She was also often seen out and about in Los Angeles rocking some of my other sports bra designs and booty shorts. Every now and then, I spot her in the tabloids or online wearing a design that I created a decade ago. The surge of gratitude never dissipates.

At the time, luxury activewear was virtually impossible to find so I felt passionate about innovating the industry that so desperately needed to evolve. Believe it or not, the first sports bra EVER was not even invented until 1977. The design looked as though it had been produced solely for hospital patients–not for vivacious women, like me, who prioritize both their inner and outer beauty. If wanting to look and feel my best makes me narcissistic, then I will unapologetically own that title. My entire squad of customers, all of whom represent a constellation of stars, are stellar in their own ways.

What is your artistic process in creating a new piece? More specifically, how did you come up with the design for the iconic bra?

My creative process is very Faulknerian in nature. I instinctively follow a stream-of-consciousness approach for everything in life when it comes to creativity–whether that be a sports bra design, a customized piece of furniture or a lavish dinner for a loved one. I go with, and grow with, the flow. My overarching objective in creating extravagant sports bras was two-fold.

On the one hand, I knew that I capitalize on the white space in the activewear industry by targeting my demographic, which had been egregiously disregarded for so long. I could not comprehend why bras like the one I envisioned in my head had not yet existed!

On the other hand, because I got my M.A. in Media, Culture and Communication Studies with an emphasis in social media and luxury consumption from New York University in 2008, I knew that I could strategically leverage social media at a time when Instagram was still in its infancy and when Facebook was ubiquitous, still existing as the epicenter for digital communication. Therefore, my ridiculously expensive, bespoke sports bra designs had viral appeal that would boost my website traffic; thereby introducing customers to my other eclectic, yet more affordable, designs that ranged from $44-$85. At the time, these prices were considered outrageous since the median, high end sports bra price industry wide was around $30.

Each design that launched was inspired by women who have inspired me. These woman include my Mom, who is my hero; my bestie Jasmine Kingsley, who is a queen in her own right currently dominating as a lawyer for HUDL in Lincoln, Nebraska and raising two beautiful mixed children with the love of her life. Further, the ZuZu Bra was named after my beautiful hair stylist and make-up artist, Zuleika Acosta. She now owns hair salon in Brooklyn called ZuZu Studio. I am so proud of all of the dreams that she manifested with unwavering intention since the second I met her while getting my hair styled at Bumble and Bumble’s styling bar at Bloomingdales on 59th in New York City back in 2010. Even Angelina Jolie, when she starred in Tomb Raider sexily clad in black leather [has been an inspiration].

Every creation that I created was different, just like the plethora of exceptional women who inspired the design. [These creations] empower women to love the skin they’re in. [The designs] encourage them to fully embrace their femininity with just enough bite to remain authentic in a society that has successfully brainwashed females into idealizing an unrealistic standard of beauty. [This unrealistic standard of beauty] exacerbates mental health issues worldwide by diminishing self-esteem, which has proven globally to be utterly detrimental.

There were seven staple collections based on women’s respective needs, dubbed: (1) Dim Your Headlights; (2) Keep ’em in; (3) Lock ’em Down, (4) Show ’em Off; (5) The Empower ’em Collection, which was marketed as the world’s most fashionable mastectomy bra endorsed by Giuliana Rancic; (6) Yogansita; and (7) Zip ’em Up. I also had an assortment of booty shorts, capris, cycling shorts, gloves, leggings, moto-jackets, swimwear, and tops.

The Zip ’em Up Collection was hands down the most popular collection. From that collection came The Sophia Bra: a pink, ditsy, floral Supplex adorned with a gold zipper. [The Sophie Bra], embellished with a combination of gold studs and Swarovski crystals on the piping, was the star of the show. The same month that Britney Spears reminded the world of who she was by wearing The Eternal Love Bra, The Sophia Bra got confirmed for Oprah’s O List, which was another goal that I was determined to manifest.

Where do you usually find inspiration for designing with your company Luxe Branding Haus?

The world is my playground. I’ve had the unique privilege of living in Southern California, Boston, New York City, and studied abroad in 8 different countries, from middle school through graduate school . I travel all over the world as an explorer.

This montage of vivid experiences has helped me develop a global perspective and a sophisticated eye that is heavily influenced by architecture and interior design. Luxury fashion from the world’s most reputable brands, [including] Louis Vuitton, sets the precedent not only for customer service. [Vuitton’s] artful, fashion-forward yet elegant design, and overall quality [sets the standard].

[Dooley finds inspiration] by being a voracious reader with a monomaniacal desire to eternally innovate, whilst blazing a purposeful trail in every industry that I strut my fancy feet into while living a life of purpose. More than anything, it’s my heart and hustle that sets me, as the founder, apart. Coupled with the juxtaposition of luxury design, social media marketing, and postmodernism, that is what makes Luxe Branding Haus such an avant-garde and purpose-driven company.

Rather than thinking outside-the-box, as many creatives are naturally inclined to do, I design as if there is no box– because the norm does not interest me. Basic [fashion]–such as Coach, Lululemon and Michael Kors, for example– are of no interest to me. In a world of disempowering monotony, standing out is an absolute anomaly and is a surefire way to create positive change in a world that is controlled with fear, rather than trusted with faith. Why blend in when I was born to stand out?

We all live in the same world, but not on the same frequency. Luxe Branding Haus follows the same luxury strategies invented in Europe and [has been] developed worldwide by predominantly French and Italian brands. We have several lifestyle and luxury cannabis brands launching in California this year as well as several game-changing real estate and technology projects. [They] are going to influence each respective industry indefinitely through integrated, cause-based marketing and other non-traditional strategies. [Through these projects, Dooley aims] to create positive change in a world that so desperately needs authenticity, genuine inspiration and a resurgence of utilitarian principles that will make the world a better place.

Is your personal style reflected in the pieces and styles you do for other people, or are the designs more-so dependent on the individual?

My designs are, often, heavily dependent on the individual. I have styled countless men and women over the last 13, years and I treat each project differently. To me, the human body is the equivalent of a blank canvas to an artist. Take, for example, Johannes Vermeer’s famous painting, “Girl with a Pearl Earring” from 1665. The combination of paint that he used and the brushes that he chose to create that world-renowned masterpiece is the same refined yet free-flowing process that I utilize when it comes to my designs. The only difference is that consumer products and humans are my canvas, and luxury design is the vehicle through which my visions come to life in full form.

How can the stigma surrounding the cannabis industry be best combatted?

Clinical trials, the decriminalization of cannabis, education, and luxury branding, in my opinion, will play the most fundamental roles in de-stigmatizing the cannabis industry. Luxe Branding Haus is revolutionizing the cannabis industry. I am so excited for the slow trickle of our diverse assortment of brands, all of which will resonate with different demographics. At the same time, [these brands will aid in] educating and enhancing the lifestyles of our vast clientele and hopefully helping them achieve true bliss through holistic health via cannabis–which is THE TRUTH–the universal panacea for virtually every ailment. All our brands are tied to a cause with the intention of boosting morality by imbuing the industry with pay-it-forward principles that will help mitigate some of the issues that have been so detrimental to humanity. My most fervent philanthropic passions are domestic violence awareness, mental health awareness, social equity, and suicide prevention.

How do you see the LA cannabis industry evolving in the next few years?

The LA cannabis industry will gradually commoditize and therefore become ubiquitous and normalized. Once cannabis goes federally legal, consumers will need to be more educated than ever to avoid being manipulated by the sociopaths who lead big pharma, one of the most evil juggernauts in the world. [Big Pharma] takes more lives than it saves lives, and that does more harm than good.

Do you have any other exciting projects coming up in 2021?

2021 is stacked with a vast array of blessed projects, and I could share all my secrets, but I’d rather wet your palates. All I can say is to be sure to prepare your tastebuds for the most luxurious branding and the most superb quality in the cannabis industry.

Immersive Van Gogh’s New Creative Director

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IMMERSIVE VAN GOGH AND DESIGNER DAVID KORINS (HAMILTON) JOIN FORCES TO CREATE THE LARGEST AND MOST ELABORATE ITERATION OF THE EXHIBIT

Slated to be Seen in 19 Cities Across North America in 2021, Immersive Van Gogh Brings the Artist’s Masterpieces to Life Via 500,000 Cubic Feet of Projections Indoors in New York

Hailed as “Mind-Blowing” (Toronto Star) and “Undeniably Impressive” (–Time Out Chicago)

Immersive Van Gogh, the highly-anticipated immersive art installation coming to New York this summer, announced today that Emmy Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated designer David Korins, known for his set designs featured in numerous Broadway hits including Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen, will serve as Creative Director New York for the installation. Scheduled to open on June 10, a new block of tickets will go on sale to the public Saturday, April 24 at 10 a.m. ET. The New York location and further details, including a preview of David Korins’ designs, will be revealed at a virtual press event on Friday, April 23 at 10 am ET.

As the Official Card Sponsor of Immersive Van Gogh in New York, American Express® Card Members have exclusive pre-sale access to the new block of tickets before the general public beginning Monday, April 19 at 10 a.m. ET through Wednesday, April 21 at 9:59 a.m. ET here.

Korins will join creative team for Immersive Van Gogh, the original North American immersive celebration of Van Gogh’s art. The team includes Creator Massimiliano Siccardi; Composer Luca Longobardi and Art Director Vittorio Guidotti. This winning team will make Immersive Van Gogh the most impressive staging to date and the most expansive in the world, having already opened to tremendous acclaim in Toronto, Chicago and San Francisco, with additional openings scheduled for 16 cities across North America, including Los Angeles, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas and more. Since its North American premiere in July 2020, more than 1 million tickets have been sold to Immersive Van Gogh, making it the most popular attraction currently in North America.

Immersive Van Gogh invites audiences to “step inside” the iconic works of post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh, evoking his highly emotional and chaotic inner consciousness through art, light, music, movement and imagination. The gallery space offers patrons more than 500,000 cubic feet of animated projections. Renowned Creative Director Korins will create a custom design to fit the architecture of the exhibition’s New York home, adding elements to the gallery space as well as adjacent auxiliary elements. Korins will create numerous New York-specific installations, viewing platforms and high-tech, experiential and interactive elements previously unseen in any other venue.

“Immersive Van Gogh has been hailed as an entirely new way of encountering art and has been enthusiastically embraced by press and patrons in every city in which it currently is being presented,” said Producer Corey Ross. “Our New York exhibition will be by far our most ambitious. Not only do we have the talents of our ingenious Italian creative team, we also have David Korins bringing his distinct creative vision to the project to provide an unsurpassed guest experience.”

“This will be an event that New Yorkers and visitors can enjoy safely, quite literally surrounding themselves with the work of Vincent van Gogh, one of the greatest artists who ever lived,” added Producer Svetlana Dvoretsky.

“I am thrilled to be collaborating with the creative minds behind the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit to create a truly unique experience for the city of New York to enjoy and be inspired by,” said David Korins, Creative Director New York. “I have always been deeply moved when looking at Van Gogh’s paintings, which are universally beloved for their color and unique use of texture, or his transcendent ink drawings, and I’m humbled by the opportunity to develop an experience that will enhance the viewers’ time spent with his powerful art.”

It is expected that Immersive Van Gogh will be the first event of its magnitude since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We have a track record of producing this event safely in numerous cities throughout North America,” said Co-Producer Irina Shabshis. “We hope that this will lift the spirits of so many New Yorkers, who have not had the opportunity to experience cultural attractions for the past year, with first-rate production values that will make this one of the top events in the city this summer,” added Co-Producer Maria Shclover.

“David Korins is a very experienced and creative; he is giving his professional and artistic contributions to the implementation of the New York venue that will host my creation Immersive Van Gogh“, said Creator Massimiliano Siccardi, “I have enormous respect for his creativity, and I feel that his vision will be able to excellently enhance the audience experience, priming their minds as they enter and exit our exhibit, and also creating architectural enhancements that will provide unique vantage points from which they can observe my work. Most of all, I know that David shares a deep appreciation of and respect for the work of Vincent van Gogh, and that he, like me, wants to pay homage to the brilliance of his body of work, a legacy that influenced us all in our individual development as artists.”

Immersive Van Gogh has received rave reviews from critics and patrons. The Chicago Tribune exclaimed “entire rooms pulse with imagery and emotional resonance.” The Toronto Sun declared, “the mind-blowing imagery, brings Van Gogh’s best work to life — including Sunflower, Irises, and The Starry Night — for a cathartic and liberating experience.” “Immersive Van Gogh ups the emotional ante,” Toronto Star stated, “I wondered: could projections of paintings on walls and floors be thrilling? The answer is ‘yes.’” Called a “completely new way of encountering art” by CTV and a “blockbuster digital experience that has taken the art world by storm” by Artnet News, the exhibit “cleverly embraces creativity,” according to Washington Post. The San Francisco Chronicle summed it up saying “It’s one hell of a way to wake up from our long pandemic art nap.”

The hour-long walk-through installation has been designed with health and safety as a priority. Admissions will be limited according to New York City’s capacity guidelines with touchless ticket-taking; temperature checks upon arrival; hand sanitizer stations and social distancing markers prominent throughout the venue; and digitally projected social distancing circles on the gallery floors to ensure appropriate spacing. All guests must wear a face covering at all times during their visit to Immersive Van Gogh.

Immersive Van Gogh was designed by Creator and Italian film producer Massimiliano Siccardi, with original, mood-setting music, both original and curated, by Italian multimedia Composer Luca Longobardi, who provided a score that combines experimental electronic music with pure, ethereal and simple-seeming piano. Vittorio Guidotti is the Art Director. Siccardi and Longobardi are both pioneers of immersive digital art installations in Europe, where they created the world-renowned Van Gogh, Starry Night exhibition, among others. With approximately 100 state-of-the-art projectors illuminating over the exhibit space, visitors to Immersive Van Gogh will be encircled from head-to-toe in Van Gogh’s brushstrokes and colors, including animated details from works such as Self Portrait with Felt Hat (1888), The Bed-room in Arles (1889), Irises (1889) and The Starry Night (1889).

Tickets for the exhibition are on-sale now online and by phone. Tickets range in price from $29.99 for kids to $99.99 for VIP Flex tickets, which comes with priority access, flexible admission, a limited-edition poster, a souvenir laminate and a van Gogh cushion. Basic timed tickets are $49.99. The New York location will be revealed at a virtual press event on Friday, April 23 at 10 am ET. To RSVP and receive a link to the press event, click here.

The new block of tickets will go on sale to the public Saturday, April 24 at 10 a.m. ET.

For more information about Immersive Van Gogh, visit this website or call. Follow the exhibition on social media at @goghnyc on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

About Vincent van Gogh

Legendary Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh (1853 – 1890) is recognized as one of the world’s greatest and best loved artists. He was born in the Netherlands to his father, Theodorus van Gogh, and his mother, Anna Cornelia Carbentus, a moody artist whose love of nature, drawing and watercolors was passed on to her son. He worked at his uncle Cornelis’ art dealership when he had already been fluent in French, German and English, as well as his native Dutch. He fell in love with English culture when he was transferred to the Groupil Gallery in London in 1873.

During his short life he painted more than 2,000 artworks ranging from ordinary household items and self-portraits to surreal landscapes that inspire awe. Van Gogh was a post-Impressionist painter whose work — notable for its beauty, emotion and color — highly influenced expressionism in 20th-century art. He struggled with mental illness and remained poor and virtually unknown throughout his life.

He was tragically admitted to a psychiatric hospital after offering his severed ear to a woman at a local brothel. For hope, he turned to painting and nature, until one day when he went out to paint in the morning with a loaded pistol in his hand and reportedly shot himself in the chest. In his 37 years alive, Van Gogh only sold one painting, The Red Vineyards, to his brother Theo.

About the Creative Team

DAVID KORINS, Creative Director New York

David Korins is the award-winning Creative Director, Designer and Founder of his eponymous New York City based creative studio. In his two decades of creating omnidirectional experiences, he has, along with his expert team, reached hundreds of millions of people all over the world while helping the most influential brands, companies and individuals bring their stories to life. From stage to screen, museums to hospitality, experiential design to singular live events, Korins has traversed the landscape of world building and storytelling through almost every medium available. Korins created the worlds for the Tony Award-winning musicals Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen and Beetlejuice: The Musical. He has also designed the set for the musical Mrs. Doubtfire as well as over 20 additional Broadway shows. Among numerous TV credits, Korins is the Production Designer for the 91st Annual Academy Awards and Grease: Live!, for which he received an Emmy Award.

Collaborators include Bruno Mars, Elton John, Lady Gaga, Kanye West, Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, Sia, and Takashi Murakami, and presented at venues such as Madison Square Garden, Coachella, Gagosian, Lollapalooza, SXSW, and Sotheby’s. Brand partnerships include the NFL, Twitter, Google, Spotify, YouTube, and Microsoft. As the Creative Director for the USC Shoah Foundation, he has led the organization’s rebranding efforts, the creation of several new experiences, and state of the art testimonials. In 2019, through an ongoing collaboration with Sotheby’s, Korins unveiled a unique exhibit at their New York City headquarters in celebration of the company’s 275th Anniversary. In addition, he designed the Time Square restaurant Bond 45. His work has earned him an Emmy Award, three Tony nominations, Drama Desk, Lortel Awards, three Henry Hewes Design Awards, and an Obie Award for Sustained Excellence in Design.

MASSIMILIANO SICCARDI, Creator

Massimiliano Siccardi studied at the London School of Contemporary Dance of London. But in 1990, he left the world of dance to begin a new journey in the world of video art. Siccardi quickly became the artistic force behind several visual mise-en-scène for choreographers around the world. He also created video scenographies for numerous prestigious festivals and galas around the world. He also re-constructed the video mapping of the Basilica di Giotto and for the Teatro Petruzzelli of Bari, where one of his permanent installation’s virtually reconstruct the frescoes of the Cupola. Siccardi is also a celebrated photographer and has had photo ex-hibitions in Spoleto and Rome, to name a few. He is professor of digital image elaboration at the Accademia di Comunicazione e Immagine of Rome. In 2012, Siccardi received the prestigious International Award “Romaindanza” for his talent in the visual work of dance theatre. Since 2012, he has been artist in residence at the Carrières de Lumières – Atelier des Lumières where he authored the mise-en-scène of numerous immersive shows. He is currently creating projects within Italy as well as New York, Berlin, Leipzig and Rome.

LUCA LONGOBARDI, Composer

Italian composer and pianist Luca Longobardi is a classically trained musician who incorporates the contemporary electronic music into his pieces. Born in 1976, Longobardi studied classical music in Italy and New York and went on to earn his doctorate in digital audio resto-ration in Rome in 2011. His works reveal a strong interaction between classical and contemporary music. The experience he has gained as a theatre musician has increased his interest in the relationship between sounds and spectacle; he has composed music for ballets and films and accompanied installations and experimental art productions (Atelier de Lumières – Paris, Carrière does Lumières – Baux-de-Provence, Kunstkraftwerk – Leipzig). At his multimedia performances and in his recordings, strong experimental electronic music meets pure, ethereal and simple-seeming piano playing that nevertheless relays deep emotions.

About the Producing Team
The producers of Immersive Van Gogh New York are Corey Ross and Svetlana Dvoretsky, working with Co-Producers Maria Shclover and Irina Shabshis. Together they founded Immersive ArtSpace NY, LP to bring Immersive Van Gogh to New York.

Corey Ross is the founder of Starvox Entertainment which has ranked in Profit Magazine’s Fastest growing Canadian companies for 5 years in a row. The company produces and man-ages cross-over performing arts shows and exhibition including the Art of Banksy in London, Canada, the USA, Taiwan, and Japan. He is also a co-founder at Lighthouse Immersive – a company producing the Immersive Van Gogh in 19 North American cities and Illusionarium in Toronto.

Svetlana Dvoretsky is the founder of Toronto’s Show One Productions and a proud recipient of the Order of York by the Government of Canada for her “significant role in arts and culture.” Show One Productions is leading presenter of high-profile international artists in classical music, theater and dance. She is a co-founder of Lighthouse Immersive and co-producer of Immersive Van Gogh.

Maria Shclover and Irina Shabshis are the co-founders of Maestro Immersive Art. Shclover founded Maestro Artist Management in 2004, Shabshis in 2005 and together they have presented more than 1,000 theatrical and classical music performances across the United States, including projects with Michel Legrand, Mikhail Baryshnikov, John Malkovich and more. In 2012, Shclover and Shabshis formed a non-profit organization, Cherry Orchard Festival Foundation, presenting an annual international theatrical festival to audiences in New York City and beyond.

Wolf Alice – SMILE

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WATCH THE VIDEO

NEW ALBUM BLUE WEEKEND DUE JUNE 11, 2021

Wolf Alice, Britain’s best band, today release their uncompromising new single “Smile” via. The track was inspired by lead singer Ellie Rowsell’s desire to fight back against those who try to define her, and is the second single from their highly-anticipated third album, Blue Weekend, the follow up to the Mercury Prize winning Visions of a Life.

Listen to “Smile”

Watch the video for “Smile”

“Smile” is carried along on a tide of visceral energy, a song destined to be a live favorite. The band envisaged this during their time recording Blue Weekend in Brussels during lockdown. Rowsell states, “this is one of the songs we wrote thinking that we would play it live. I miss that feeling of singing on stage. It’s like screaming into a pillow or something — you can get away with being more nasty. There’s a whole other part of me missing.”

“Smile” is accompanied by a video directed by Jordan Hemmingway (Gucci, Raf Simons, Comme Des Garçons), the band’s second collaboration with Hemmingway, following previous single “The Last Man On Earth” (watch). The saturated visuals of the band in full-flow, combined with the casting of riotous punk extras and pub locals, provide the ideal hedonistic backdrop to the track.

“The Last Man On Earth” spent 7 weeks on the BBC Radio 1 A-List. It was premiered by Annie Mac as her Hottest Record In The World, further cementing a longstanding relationship between the band and Annie. Last week, the band released a special live version of “The Last Man On Earth” which can be viewed below.

Watch “The Last Man On Earth” live

The release of “Smile” follows the news of the band announcing a 2022 UK & Ireland tour, their first headline shows since 2018. For the full list of dates see below, to purchase tickets please visit Wolf Alice’s website. Before then, on May 22, Wolf Alice will play the Glastonbury Presents Live at Worthy Farm Livestream alongside Coldplay, Michael Kiwanuka, Haim and more.

Wolf Alice UK & Ireland January 2022 Tour Dates

05 January – Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow, UK (EXTRA DATE)

07 Jan – Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow, UK (SOLD OUT)

08 January – Barrowland Ballroom, Glasgow, UK (SOLD OUT)

09 Jan – O2 City Hall, Newcastle, UK

10 Jan – UEA, Norwich, UK (SOLD OUT)

12 Jan – O2 Apollo, Manchester, UK (SOLD OUT)

13 Jan – O2 Apollo, Manchester, UK (EXTRA DATE)

14 Jan – O2 Academy, Sheffield, UK (SOLD OUT)

15 Jan – Uni Mountford Hall, Liverpool, UK (SOLD OUT)

18 Jan – Eventim Apollo, London, UK (SOLD OUT)

19 Jan – Eventim Apollo, London, UK (EXTRA DATE)

22 Jan – O2 Guildhall, Southampton, UK (SOLD OUT)

23 Jan – De La Warr Pavillion, Bexhill On Sea, UK

24 Jan – Olympia Theatre, Dublin, IRE (EXTRA DATE)

25 Jan – Olympia Theatre, Dublin, IRE (SOLD OUT)

27 Jan – O2 Academy, Birmingham, UK

28 Jan – Plymouth Pavilions, Plymouth, UK

30 Jan – O2 Academy, Bristol, UK (SOLD OUT)

31 Jan – O2 Academy, Bristol, UK (EXTRA DATE)

Wolf Alice are Ellie Rowsell (vocals, guitar), Joff Oddie (guitar, vocals), Theo Ellis (bass) and Joel Amey (drums, vocals). It has been a decade since the band began as a duo of Ellie Rowsell and Joff Oddie, then later expanding to a four-piece, with Joel Amey and Theo Ellis joining the group. Since then, the band saw their 2015 debut album My Love Is Cool soar to #2 on the UK charts, their sophomore album Visions Of A Life win the 2018 Hyundai Mercury prize, and a GRAMMY nomination for Best Rock Performance. The band played a massive 187 shows on the Visions Of A Life world tour – including a sold out Alexandra Palace, 2 sold out dates at Brixton Academy, and a set on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury.

It was no surprise that creating a follow-up to Visions Of A Life was a daunting task. The record was a huge success, which subsequently led to many months spent on tour – with intercontinental flights, hotels and long-bus journeys taking a toll on the band.

The band decamped to an Airbnb in Somerset, and it was there that they reconfigured who they were together, far away from festival stages, tour buses, awards shows, and fans. They cemented their friendship and set to work on some fledgling demos in a converted church. These demos evolved into Blue Weekend, a record produced by Markus Dravs (Arcade Fire, Björk, Brian Eno, Florence + The Machine) who has aided the band in refining their sound to an even sharper point. Rowsell’s personal storytelling is at the core of Blue Weekend, an album that sees Wolf Alice embrace a newfound boldness and vulnerability in equal measure.

Blue Weekend will be released on June 11th 2021 via Dirty Hit/RCA Records, and will be available on all DSPs & vinyl.

Wolf Alice – Blue Weekend tracklisting

The Beach
Delicious Things
Lipstick On The Glass
Smile
Safe From Heartbreak (if you never fall in love)
How Can I Make It OK?
Play The Greatest Hits
Feeling Myself
The Last Man On Earth
No Hard Feelings
The Beach II

TAG Heuer Father’s Day Gift Guide

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With Father’s Day quickly approaching, luxury brand TAG Heuer has the perfect gifts for pop!

The new Aquaracer 300 Professional, unveiled in mid-April, includes four new pieces will be available for purchase in early June. Aquaracers are TAG Heuer’s timeless and professional sports watches. The new thinner and chicer Aquaracers are perfect for business professional dad during the week and a surfer dad on the weekends. TAG Heuer says: “Forged for the deeps and fit for every ground, the ultimate tool watch pushes the boundaries of luxury timekeeping. Sporting heavy-duty materials, this ultimate tool watch emerges with a new lease of life.”

For fathers on-the-go, TAG Heuer’s app provides the perfect solution. The TAG Heuer Connected Wellness app will help keep dad healthy and in shape to fight those pandemic pounds! The app measures your performance–from running and cycling, to golf and fitness, and more! You can track his steps, calories, and heart rate with automatic ease. The app also features advance statistics to track distance and routes. Help dad reach his wellness goals in a tech-savvy way that will measure his everyday performance.

And for the dads who want to improve their golf game, TAG Heuer’s Connected Golf Watch will keep track of dad’s every shot, putt, and step on over 40,000 golf courses across the globe. This watch truly takes the sport to the next level, allowing dad to up his game like never before. Monitor your distance to the green and nearby hazards, as well as view interactive maps, shot distance, and a smart scorecard. Dad can even keep track of his notifications, weather and Google Pay while on the green.

New Openings in Orange County, CA

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RAMEN & TSUKEMEN TAO Announces Opening of Second Orange County, CA Location

Tokyo-trained Chef Toshimasa Sano is Excited with the Resurgence of Restaurants and Tourism in Orange County

WHO: RAMEN & TSUKEMEN TAO restaurant

WHAT: Announces Grand Opening of Its Second Location. Date: April 12, 2021

WHERE: 2143 N Tustin St Ste 1, Orange, CA 92865

WHEN: Monday, April 12, 2021

Japanese Chef Toshimasa Sano opened his second ramen restaurant at 2143 N Tustin St Ste 1 in the City of Orange on Monday, April 12. Chef Sano was trained at the famed Tsujita ramen restaurant in Tokyo and opened his first restaurant RAMEN & TSUKEMEN TAO in Buena Park in August 2019, which the Orange County Register named second on the top 10 Japanese ramen restaurants in Orange County in 2020.

Chef Sano is especially excited to open this second location in Orange County, which can safely serve twice as many customers as the Buena Park location. A new menu will feature vegetarian ramen options as well as ramen dishes made with miso broth, the specialty of Tsujita, which has become an artisan ramen brand that was selected one of the best 10 ramen shops in Tokyo by the readers of Japan Times in 2019.

“Miso is a traditional Japanese seasoning made by fermenting soybeans with salt and koji mold. It’s full of probiotics and linked to a variety of health benefits, including a stronger immune system,” Sano said. “I hope to serve this umami-packed miso-based ramen to residents of the City of Orange.”

The new location also has a bigger selection of appetizers and other dishes as well as alcoholic beverages.

Sano’s menu includes five kinds of ramen noodles: His signature miso-based Tsukemen dipping noodle, White Miso Ramen, Red Miso Ramen, Vegetarian Ramen and Savory Chicken Ramen, along with toppings such as Pork Chashu (roasted pork), Soft-Boiled Eggs, Menma (marinated bamboo shoots), Bean Sprouts, Corn, and Spicy Tao (a spicy paste made with garlic and hot chilli paper).

Sano extended non-ramen and appetizer options at this Orange location. They include three types of rice bowls (Chashu, Spicy Tuna, and Takana vegetables), four types of Buns (Pork, Spicy Pork, Chicken and Spicy Chicken) and Japanese favorite Curry Rice. Among the appetizers are Chicken Karaage (Japanese fried chicken), Takoyaki, Agedashi Tofu, Gyoza, Shumai, Seaweed Salad and Tofu Salad. Also new is a Kids Plate.

Responding to numerous customer requests, Sano decided to include Vegetarian Ramen with miso broth and eggless noodles for vegan diners. Another addition to the menu is Savory Chicken Ramen made with chicken broth.

A native of Tokyo’s historical district called Asakusa, Sano moved to California in 2019 to manage the first Ramen & Tsukemen TAO location in Buena Park. He was trained in Tsujita by its founder for 10 years prior to his dream-come-true adventure of owning his own restaurant in the U.S.

The restaurant has 42 seats and will be open for indoor and outdoor dining Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. -9 p.m. The restaurant is complying with all local guidelines and precautions regarding Covid-19.

Ramen & Tsukemen TAO is on Instagram and Facebook.

New restaurants and bars opening in and around Orange, California!

Stubrik’s Steakhouse

When: Opened Winter 2020

Location: Old Towne Orange

Bosscat Kitchen and Libations

When: Opened March 30, 2021

Location: Old Towne Orange

The Blue Bayou

(To open in Disneyland second location, to buy alcohol in the park)

When: Will open with the park on April 30, 2021

Location: Anaheim, CA

OC Fair

When: Will be open Summer 2021 with restrictions on capacity in place

Location: Costa Mesa, CA

O Sea

When: Will open May, 2021 Q

Location: Old Towne Orange

Blue Bowl

When: Opened last month

Location: Old Towne Orange

O Dumpling Bar

Location: Orange, CA

Pasta Party

Location: Orange, CA

Nava Thai Cuisine

When: Last month

Location: Orange, CA

Birrieria Guadalajara

When: Two months ago

Location: Orange, CA

Little Pan Fried Bun

When: Two months ago

Location: Tustin (Basically in Orange)

JDK Juicy Dumpling Kitchen

When: Two months ago

Location: Orange, CA

Masala Bae

Location: Tustin (basically in Orange)

Haku Fotomaki

When: 3 weeks ago

Location: Orange, CA

Usa Daily Crawfish Togo

When: Two weeks ago

Location: Garden Grove (basically in Orange)

AHI Hawaiian BBQ

When: 5 weeks ago

Location: Anaheim (basically in Orange)

Huckleberry’s

When: 5 weeks ago

Location: Anaheim (basically in Orange)

Maddie’s Cafe and Grill
Location: Garden Grove (basically in Orange)

Hotels opening in Orange, CA:

The Westin Anaheim Resort

When: August 2020

Location: Anaheim, CA

JW Marriot, Anaheim Resort

When: April 2020

Location: Anaheim, CA

Disneyland reopening: …and surrounding Anaheim area

Disneyland and California Adventure will reopen April 30, with ticket sales starting on April 15
- Under new California theme park guidance issued March 5, 2021, Disneyland will be able to reopen if it has less than 7 new daily cases per 100,000 people and positive test rates of 8% maximum as of April 1. Disneyland’s Orange County is already sitting below these thresholds as of April 6.

What to know:

Under theme park guidance issued by the state on March 5, Disneyland is permitted to reopen if Orange County is in the red, or “substantial,” tier as of April 1.
Under the current orange tier, which the county entered at the end of March, the parks will have a maximum capacity of 25%.
Once the county reaches the yellow tier, there will be a 35% capacity as well as a 25% indoor capacity.
All tiers — red, orange and yellow — allow for only California visitors to Disneyland. However, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced April 6 the state will remove the tier system June 15 but keep in place the mask mandate.

Currently, all dining and shopping locations in Downtown Disney are open!

Apart from locations in the Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel.
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa will reopen on April 29, 2021.
The Disneyland Hotel and Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel remain closed and will reopen at a later date.

Celebrity-Designed Bag Auction for Chema Vision Children’s Center

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Big Hearted Celebrities Act Fast to Help Children from Kibera Slum Go to School

Naomi Campbell, Halle Berry, Lenny Kravitz, Zoe Kravitz, Usher, Lionel Richie, Eddie Murphy, Evan Ross, Maggie Q, Raquel Bitton, Chrome Hearts and more come together using art and fashion so that students at Kibera’s Chema Vision Children’s Center can receive a quality education and a daily meal.

LA’s art and luxury fashion retailer to the stars Church Boutique and the eco-fashion house Ministry of Tomorrow (MOT) have teamed up with Christie’s and their charity auction partner Charitybuzz to produce “Art for Education”– the inaugural celebrity art auction fundraiser to benefit the Chema Vision Children’s Center (Chema) in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Chema School is situated in the midst of Kibera, Africa’s largest urban slum. The Chema School was established to provide quality education for some of Kibera’s most vulnerable children. Many of the students are orphans or children of single parents without income to pay for school fees.

Just before the pandemic, Chema was forced to relocate because the school structure was not up to code. MOT’s vegan bag production facility is located near the school and Julian Prolman, president of MOT heard about the school’s dilemma. Through an initial fundraiser orchestrated by MOT, Chema was able to relocate to a safe building. However, Chema is currently lacking much needed funds to pay its teachers and cover its operational expenses that includes a daily meal for the students.

When Church Boutique’s founders Rodney Burns and David Malvaney learned about the urgent need at Chema from their supply partner MOT, whose branded bags are featured at The Church Boutique, they quickly reached out to their celebrity friends to request their support. Celebrities will be painting their artistic expressions on MOT’s new organic canvas tote bags that will be auctioned online through Christie’s auction partner, Charitybuzz, starting June 1, 2021 with the final bid accepted on June 16.

Prior to the auction launch, the bags will be on display from May 19– 26 at Church Boutique in Hollywood, CA, and then brought to New York where the bags will be on display at Christie’s during the auction.

Without hesitation, Rodney and David’s luminary friends offered to help including Naomi Campbell, Halle Berry, Lenny Kravitz, Zoe Kravitz, Usher, Lionel Richie, Eddie Murphy, Maggie Q, Evan Ross and Raquel Bitton, with more mega stars soon to be announced. In addition, Laurie Lynn Stark, the creator of the international jewelry and clothing brand Chrome Hearts, has joined in to create her own unique MOT tote.

“We believe that luxury is a privilege that comes with the responsibility to care for others in need and therefore we are thrilled to collaborate with MOT to do what we can to make a difference in the lives of children born into challenging circumstances” said Rodney Burns.

The opening minimum bid for each one-of-a-kind celebrity designed bag will begin at $1,000.

All proceeds from the auction will be donated to Chema to help fund the schools operating budget with a goal to raise $100k.

“Chema is a Swahili word meaning something good, and that is what we are trying to do with Art for Education” said Julian Prolman.

About Chema

At the heart of Kibera, Africa’s largest urban slum in Nairobi, Kenya, is the Chema Vision Children’s Center, a school that offers quality education to some of Kibera’s most vulnerable children. Learn more at Chema Vision’s website.

About the Church Boutique

The Church Boutique, located in West Hollywood, offers mid-century modern home décor, exclusive high-end avant-garde fashion, fine art photography, art, jewelry, and more. Visit The Church Boutique’s website here.

About the Ministry of Tomorrow

MOT is a for-profit social enterprise that designs and produces high quality, eco-luxury, vegan bags and accessories that are sold directly to consumers on their website.

About Christie’s

Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and international expertise. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie’s has conducted the greatest and most celebrated auctions through the centuries, providing a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christie’s offers around 350 auctions annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewelry, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $100 million. Christie’s also has a long and successful history conducting Private Sales for clients and online sales are offered year-round across all categories. Christie’s global presence is spread across a network of international sale rooms and 61 representatives and offices. Christie’s website provides detailed articles and videos on the objects offered for sale alongside the latest advances in digital viewing tools to make Christie’s accessible to all.

*Please note when quoting estimates above that other fees will apply in addition to the hammer price – see Section D of the Conditions of Sale at the back of the sale catalogue.

*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium. Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium and are reported net of applicable fees.

SK8 – CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE

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TAYLOR GANG SINGER HERALDS UPCOMING PROJECT WITH SECOND ALT-ROCK JAM ARRIVING TODAY ALONGSIDE DANIEL KELLY-DIRECTED VISUAL

Fast-rising Taylor Gang singer, SK8, is continuing his musical evolution into alternative rock with his new single, “Caught In The Middle” – LISTEN HERE.

Over an infectious guitar riff and trap-like drums, SK8 uses a nostalgia-tinged pop/punk chorus to describe feeling caught between wanting a relationship and wanting to pursue his dreams.

“I’ve always known that I wanted to be a recording artist. I wanted the life that I’d seen my favorite musicians and bands live. I moved all the way from Omaha, Nebraska to achieve that dream and sometimes that dream pulls you in a direction that separates you from another thing you want in your life. ‘Caught In The Middle’ is about that constant push and pull and trying to find the balance in my personal life and music career.” -SK8

“Caught In The Middle” arrives today alongside a dramatic visual directed by SK8’s frequent collaborator, Daniel Kelly – WATCH HERE.

The new single and video from the Omaha, NE born, LA-based singer arrives after his first foray into alt-rock with “Famous” featuring fellow ascending recording artist Tyla Yaweh, which also received an accompanying Daniel Kelly-directed visual. American Songwriter praised “Famous,” noting that, “SK8 effortlessly blends hip-hop and punk into some newly evolved sound.” Additionally, Hot New Hip Hop hailed the song as a, “genre-melting experience.”

“Caught In The Middle” is the second single from SK8’s upcoming project, arriving soon…

STREAM/DOWNLOAD “CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE” HERE

WATCH SK8’S PREVIOUS MUSIC VIDEO FOR “FAMOUS (FEAT. TYLA YAWEH)” [Directed By: Daniel Kelly]

ABOUT SK8:

At 15, you could find SK8 in his room writing lyrics, and by his sophomore year, you could find him handing out CDs in high school. The 23-year-old moved to Los Angeles from Omaha, Nebraska and linked with the venerable Taylor Gang, first breaking into the mainstream with his gold-certified single, “Like That,” with Jack & Jack and opening for revered rap icons like Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz and Rae Sremmurd. SK8 began building a dedicated fanbase of dreamers who related to his message of seizing every moment long before his eventual move to LA. Shortly after founding his own imprint, Alignment, and formally signing a joint venture with Atlantic Records via James McMillan’s ART@WAR, SK8 released his major label debut EP, sk8sounds, which was buttressed by the standout singles “Omme (Feat. Wiz Khalifa),” “XXX” and “Mood (Feat. YK Osiris).” Over a year later, SK8 turned a new page in his career with his first single of 2021, “Famous (Feat. Tyla Yaweh),” and its associated forthcoming project which finds the rising singer seamlessly blending punk/rock instrumentation with his hip-hop origins, the latest, but not last, development in SK8’s rapidly evolving artistry.

CARLY PEARCE × LEE BRICE WIN ACM AWARD

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CARLY PEARCE & LEE BRICE WIN ACM AWARDS MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR

After CMA Awards Musical Event Win, “I Hope You’re Happy Now” Makes It A Pair

Lee Brice Alongside Carly Pearce Still in the Hunt for Single of the Year for ‘I Hope You’re Happy Now’ at Sunday Night’s “56th Academy of Country Music Awards” on CBS

Carly Pearce and Lee Brice knew that rarely does the CMA Awards Musical Event take the ACM Awards matching honor, so when the pair headed into their rehearsal last night they were “just happy to be nominated.”

People magazine’s Topher Gauk-Roger interrupted his interview to congratulate them with the Music Event trophy for “I Hope You’re Happy Now.” The surprised pair stopped cold in their tracks – watch reaction. Striking a chord across the world of Country music fans, industry and people who look for real life in their music, the song introspectively details erosion of a relationship over time and finding out what you thought you wanted doesn’t always provide the comfort you thought it has.

“I’m over the moon on winning this award but especially happy for Carly,” says Lee of their PLATINUM certified No.1 collaboration, which they perform live on Sunday’s (4/18) telecast. “This is her story, her song and I am honored to be a part of it. Seeing this from the very beginning from her prospective to now winning awards is full circle – and humbling but rewarding.”

Carly, the young woman who left high school to start playing five shows a day at Dollywood, turned her love of Country and Bluegrass music into a focused vision. Spinning her own life into songs, Carly realized the unspoken parts of other people’s lives too. Carly enlisted Luke Combs, Randy Montana and Jonathan Singleton for the surging lyrical narrative the offers remorse in reflection.

“Everyone at some point in their life has found themselves caught in a relationship where you love the other person so much, yet over time, it all falls apart,” explains Carly. “When we all started talking about our lives and our journeys, every one of us had been in this position – and it’s the worst feeling. You get to a point where you have to do something, and even that doesn’t really make things better, it just creates a hole where your heart used to be.

“To see people respond to ‘I Hope You’re Happy Now’ the way that they have has been is incredibly affirming, because I think it makes you – wherever you are in your life – feel less alone. And having Lee’s voice, which is a bit of hurricane the way he comes in, it really brings home how hard it is for both people in these kinds of situations.”

Having been nominated for Song of the Year at the 2020 CMA Awards, “I Hope You’re Happy Now” is up for Single of the Year at this weekend’s ACM Awards. The power ballad faces off against a precedent-setting all-female category that includes Miranda Lambert’s “Bluebird,” Gabby Barrett’s “I Hope,” Ingrid Andress’ “More Hearts Than Mine” and Maren Morris’ “The Bones.”

“It has been such an incredible year for women in country music,” says the first-time ACM Female Artist nominee, “and the Academy of Country Music really showed that with this year’s nominees. Having grown up on so many dynamic, awesome women, I am so proud to be part of this year’s group of incredible female artists who inspire me so much and support each other when the going gets tough.”

ABOUT CARLY PEARCE:

Fiercely rooted in the classics, the girl who left her Kentucky home and high school at 16 to take a job at Dollywood has grown into a woman who embraces the genre’s forward progression and is confident in what she wants to say. Lighting a fire with her debut album Every Little Thing and the Platinum-certified history making title track, Carly has since become “Country’s ‘it’ girl” (ABC Radio), touring alongside Blake Shelton, Rascal Flatts and Luke Bryan. With the most CMA Awards nods for any new artist in 2020, she won Musical Event of the Year. In a year of uncertainty, Carly turned to the comfort of records she’s drawn inspiration from since her childhood dream started to take hold – Dolly, The Chicks, Trisha, Reba, Patty Loveless. Like those before, she leaned on her own intuitions with Top 25-and-rising single “Next Girl,” and a clever new video. Carly explores more of a pivotal time with a seven-song collection called 29 (available now via Big Machine Records), finding creative simpatico with Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne following the unexpected death of her mentor and former producer, busbee. With her catalogue already boasts over 1 billion streams, she opens up even more in Carly Pearce’s 29 – The Interview. As Carly marks a new chapter coming of age, she is nominated for ACM Awards Female Artist and Single while already winning Music Event of the Year with her PLATINUM-certified, No. 1 duet with Lee Brice “I Hope You’re Happy Now.” Leaning into her faith, Carly joins five-time GRAMMY® nominated singer/songwriter Matthew West on a new version of his No. 1 “Truth Be Told” and watch the video here. For the latest information and more, visit Carly’s website.

ABOUT LEE BRICE:

When Curb Records recording artist, Lee Brice, isn’t selling out arenas, writing and recording songs, or building new brands like American Born whiskey, you’ll find the family man with his wife Sara, two young boys, and daughter. Meanwhile, with 2.4 billion on-demand streams, and over 3.3 billion spins on Pandora, Brice continues to enjoy massive success at country radio, digital streaming services, and on the road. He recently released his current single, “Memory I Don’t Mess With” which was his #1 most added radio single upon its debut. He also reached #1 at Country Radio with “One of Them Girls,” which followed his #1 with Carly Pearce on “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” and his #1 just prior to that, “Rumor,” which was nominated in the category Single of The Year at the 55th Annual ACM Awards. One of the most-played country artists of all time on Pandora, he is a member of the company’s “Billionaires Club,” becoming only the second country artist behind Keith Urban to receive the Pandora Billionaire plaque. Lee is also a GRAMMY nominee, a CMA and ACM award winner, and he’s taken eight radio singles to Number One: “A Woman Like You,” “Hard to Love,” “I Drive Your Truck,” “I Don’t Dance,” “Drinking Class,” “Rumor,” “I Hope You’re Happy Now,” and “One of Them Girls.” Garth Brooks, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney and others have recorded his songs, and he’s performed on numerous TV shows, including NBC’s Today, ABC’s The Bachelor, NBC’s The Voice and FOX’s Miss USA 2018. Lee performed as part of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song honoring Garth Brooks, aired on PBS March of 2020. At last year’s 54th Annual CMA Awards, Lee took home the prize for Musical Event of the Year for his song with Carly Pearce, “I Hope You’re Happy Now.” Lee’s new album, Hey World, is available now everywhere you find great music.

ABOUT CURB RECORDS:

Celebrating 57 years in business, Curb Records is one of the world’s leading independent music companies. Owned and operated by Mike Curb since 1964, Curb Records has achieved 435 number one records, over 1,500 Top Ten records and charted over 4,500 total records. With over a half century in operation, Curb Records has been influential in the careers of some of the biggest names in music, including: Tim McGraw, Hank Williams, Jr., Rodney Atkins, Lee Brice, LeAnn Rimes, The Judds, Dylan Scott, Sawyer Brown, Wynonna, Lyle Lovett, Jo Dee Messina, Hal Ketchum and Desert Rose Band, among many others. Today’s roster includes some of the top names across multiple genres of music. For more information, visit their website.