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Paris Jackson – adagio

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Paris Jackson surprises fans with the release of a new song “adagio” featuring Manchester Orchestra today. Listen to “adagio” HERE.

The track unfolds as a simmering psychedelic slow burn. Embers of distortion glow underneath Paris’s hypnotic delivery as she locks into an unbreakable groove with Manchester Orchestra. Clocking in at just shy of seven minutes, the track culminates on a moment of empowering and entrancing catharsis. Once again, she illuminates the scope of her sweeping and soaring vision. The accompanying music video brings this emotional push-and-pull to life in vivid fashion as well.

Paris has consistently collaborated with Manchester Orchestra’s Andy Hull. He notably co-wrote and produced her 2020 full-length debut album, wilted.

Upon release, wilted hit #1 on the iTunes Alternative Albums Chart and was praised by NPR, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Associated Press, Entertainment Weekly, E! News, People, NME, NYLON, Refinery29, WWD and more. Rolling Stone hailed the album as “well-crafted indie-pop,” while NME described it as “11 intimate songs that’ll fit like your favourite sweater.”

About Paris Jackson

While Paris hails from one of the most successful families in music history, she is best known for her activism, acting and modeling work. The latter of which has seen her front campaigns for international brands like Calvin Klein, grace the cover of top fashion magazines and make her runway debut earlier this year at Jean-Paul Gaultier’s final show. On the acting front, Paris has taken on several TV and film roles, collaborating with acclaimed industry professionals, including Lee Daniels, Charlize Theron, Joel Edgerton, and Rachel Winters. Aside from music, Paris’ biggest passion has always been in using her platform to shine light on causes important to her, notably going off script while presenting at the Grammy Awards and MTV VMAs, to highlight the Dakota Access Pipeline and events of racial injustice in Charlottesville, respectively. Paris also serves as an Ambassador for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) and is passionate about continuing her godmother’s legacy of ridding the stigma and finding a cure for the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

New Book on the Volkswagen Type 4: 411 and 412

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There’s a new book out now via Veloce Books about the Volkswagen Type 4 by Marc Cranswick, going over everything from the history to the specifications on the vehicles. Sections from the book have been provided below. You can purchase the book HERE.

“If ever there was a car in search of a context and market, it was the VW Type 4. Volkswagen’s first foray into the upscale sector brought engineering innovation to Wolfsburg. It also tried to convince worldwide buyers that VW still had the right stuff. With design origins in the Porsche consultancy, the signs were hopeful. However, globally, the automarket was rapidly changing.”

“The VW Type 4’s portfolio ran to unitary construction and fuel injection, but had to face fancy competition from Detroit’s European subsidiaries. All the while, VW was searching for its future road, and faced challenging developments. The fuel crisis and Japanese competition in North America kept the pressure on at Wolfsburg.”

“The Type 4 411 and 412 held to VW tradition, while introducing new engineering directions and refinements. VW’s biggest ever car faced off against mainstream competition.”

“It was also Volkswagen’s first mid-size car and it’s final design in a thirty year air-cooled odyssey.”

“Could the VW 411 and 412’s solid traditional virtues carry the day? Then and now the Type 4’s unbreakable VW quality, and flat out sustainability, appealed to air cooled devotees. The 411 and 412 brought a new dimension in comfort to VW, and its hardware design was utilized by the air cooled clan both on and off road. The Type 4 even had a sportscar connection, and never lost the power to surprise.”

Alan Walker – The Aviation Movie

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Billboard Music Awards nominee and diamond selling DJ/producer Alan Walker announces the release of his in-concert film The Aviation Movie on YouTube. The unique five part series, which took almost two years to create, combines footage from the Oslo Spektrum stop on Walker’s Aviation Tour and a narrative arc from the Walker cinematic universe.

Woven in between the tracks and concert footage is a dynamic storyline from the World of Walker: after an apocalyptic event, a young woman, armed only with the AW logo, is on a journey to save the world. Along the way, she learns new skills and ultimately rebuilds society with the help of the like-minded Walker community. The film also features appearances by Walker’s collaborators Steve Aoki, Au/Ra, Isak, Iselin Solheim, Juliander, Julie Bergan, Omar Noir, Sophia Somajo, Tomine Harket, and Torine.

Walker also released The Aviation Game, an arcade-style iOS & Android mobile game developed by award winning indie studio Hello There Games. The game’s action, steering a drone through a challenging obstacle course, is directly derived from the plot of The Aviation Movie.

Alan Walker explains: “Live music has obviously been on hold throughout the pandemic, and I know that I’m not the only one who misses the magic of concerts. My hope for fans who watch The Aviation Movie is for them to experience that special feeling once again and to look forward to the day when we can connect in person.”

About Alan Walker

Since the 2018 release of his debut album, Different World, containing global sensation singles like the diamond selling “Faded,” “Alone,” and “All Falls Down,” Alan Walker has played over 600 headline festival and arena shows, picked up two Norwegian Grammy wins, and earned a Billboard Music Awards nomination. Walker is the 9th most followed artist on YouTube and the 20th most followed artist on Spotify, which displays the strength of his fanbase.

Walker holds over 120 million followers and 50 billion audio and video streams to his name, has previously teamed up with massive hit makers such as Ava Max, Noah Cyrus, and A$AP Rocky, and has produced remixes for internationally renowned artists such as Sia, Coldplay, Kygo, Bruno Mars, and Julia Michaels.

Grace Aimi – Rainbow

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Japan-born songstress Grace Aimi (eye-me) released her new video for “Rainbow” off her debut EP PICNIC. Watch HERE. “Rainbow” is a haunting and hypnotic love song. The video is directed by Takuto Shimpo is eerie and spellbinding as Grace’s vocals charm a hotel’s naive bellhop. The song is complemented by trap-pop beats. “Rainbow” is a darker take on PICNIC which showcases Grace’s knack for creating airy pop-fused R&B music. The song is at the same time catchy and beautifully strange.

Merging the intimacy and imagination of bedroom-pop with the lush and languid grooves of R&B, PICNIC includes previously released singles like “True Feelings” (a sweetly melancholy piece laced with bluesy acoustic guitar work), and “My Eyes” (a piano-driven song that landed on Apple Music’s New in Pop playlist). In addition, PICNIC opens with Grace‘s debut single “Eternal Sunshine,” a gorgeously quirky meditation on the meaning of happiness. All throughout the EP, Grace shows her gift for crafting unforgettable melodies, as well as her soft and subtle but endlessly commanding vocal presence.

About Grace Aimi:

Twenty-year-old biracial songstress Grace Aimi began her career with her brother posting covers in both Japanese and English on their YouTube channel, “Gracie and Gabe.” Grace’s radiant but raspy voice complemented her brother playing his ukulele as they performed covers of artists like Ed Sheeran, Anne-Marie, and Post Malone, among others. Their videos quickly garnered buzz, earning over 10M views in total before Grace made her debut as a solo artist. In August 2020, Grace released her summer-y debut single, “Eternal Sunshine” (a track produced by Chaki Zulu, who’s known for his work with Japan’s hottest hip-hop artists). With her debut EP due out soon, Grace’s global upbringing and angelic yet husky vocals make her a force to be reckoned with.

Nicky Jam × El Alfa – Pikete

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Latin music pioneer Nicky Jam releases a new musical collaboration with the “master” of the Dominican Dembow El Alfa. Together, both Latin-music superstars give life to “Pikete”, a song that promises to become the new summer anthem and is now available on all digital platforms. You can watch the music video HERE.

“Pikete” tells the story of a woman who seems unattainable because of her beauty and attitude. The song was born from the composition of its interpreters Nicky Jam and El Alfa, along with Slow Mike, Luis A O´neill, and Juan Diego Medina Vélez, under the record label La Industria inc. The song premiers with its official video, directed by the pioneer of urban genre music videos Jessy Terrero, with the production house Cinema Giants.

It is not the first time that Nicky Jam and El Alfa have collaborated. Songs such as “Nadie como tú” “Segueta remix” and “A Correr Los Lakers” have united them at a professional level, however, the last interview that Nicky Jam made with El Alfa, through his own talk show, “The Rockstar Show,” generated more than 3 million views on YouTube, and their fans asked to see them together again.

About Nicky Jam

Nicky Jam’s rise and fall story is the story of his genre itself: great fame, hard times and artistic rebirth. As one of the founders of the Urban Latin movement, Nicky Jam began recording music at the age of 11. As a young adult, he quickly rose to the top of his genre creating some of the biggest hits of the early urban movement in the 90’s. Just as he was starting to enjoy his hard-earned accomplishments, his life took a 180-degree turn and he decided to move to Colombia to rebuild his career. After being out of the limelight for 10 years, he released his album Fenix in 2017. The album is now certified Diamond in the U.S. by the RIAA. It contains the biggest singles of his career which are all Multi-Platinum certified: “El Amante,” “El Perdón,” and “Hasta El Amanecer.”

In 2018, he returned with his first new single titled “X”. The single is a duet with his longtime friend and colleague, J Balvin. This will be a landmark year for Nicky, as he will be releasing his next album.

Ten Reasons Brands Should Celebrate Pride Month

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By: Skyler Johnson

As Pride Month approaches, it’s expected that we’ll see a number of pride-related products pop up. There are people that think brands celebrating Pride Month is “tacky” or “preachy.” However, it’s still important for brands to show their support for the LGBTQIA+ community, even if it’s just in the month of June. Here are a few reasons why:

10. Celebration of Pride Month Wasn’t As Good In 2020

Because of the Black Lives Matter Protests and Covid-19, brands didn’t celebrate Pride Month in 2020 the way they had in previous years. While they could have done both, a lot of companies didn’t. So, it’s extra important this year for brands to show that they still care about LGBTQIA+ individuals through celebrating Pride Month extra hard.

9. Generates Profit for Brands

Statistically, being in support of the LGBTQIA+ community has been shown to increase company sales. People will have more respect for those companies, and will be more likely to purchase their products.

8. Supports LGBTQIA+ People for No Cost

While brands may have to change the packaging, that’s all they need to do to support Pride Month. There’s no real loss that can be had towards brands celebrating Pride Month, except for a few people thinking that it’s “preachy.”

7. Shows the Power of Brands

Brands are more powerful than you might think. After all, we’re constantly seeing them, and they are always affecting our lives, even if we don’t realize it. Everything we do– from brushing our teeth to putting on clothes–has us interacting with brands. And the actions of brands do affect us. Think about the uproar that Discord received over changing their logo. People got legitimately upset over the actions of a corporation. So people will be affected by brands that are supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, and may change a negative stance if their favorite brand supports it.

6. Recognizes the History of Hate Towards LGBTQIA+ People in the U.S.

It’s sickening how much hatred has been directed towards people just trying to live their lives. For a long time, there were laws that prohibited homosexuality and being trans was virtually impossible. 2015 was the year when gay marriage was declared legal, and that was only six years ago. Because of the long struggle with homophobia and transphobia, it’s important to recognize these people, and show them we care through the brands we as Americans deem as important.

5. Decreases Homophobia and Transphobia in the World

Although Americans are more accepting of LGBTQIA+ individuals compared to other countries (and even we’re not perfect), there are other countries that are much worse. A lot of countries still have laws that prohibit gay and trans individuals from being themselves. Given the international nature of these brands, they can help change the mindsets of people in countries that are much less accepting than the U.S.

4. Encourages Workplace Diversity

If members of the LGBTQIA+ community see that companies support them, they’ll be more likely to apply for jobs within the company. Diversity in the workplace has been shown to increase profit margins.

3. Raises Awareness

I wouldn’t know about Marsha P. Johnson if they weren’t honored by Google during Pride Month. Brands can give people information on important people in the LGBT community, and makes people aware of history that would otherwise be forgotten. I was never taught about the Stonewall Riots in school, but Google allowed me to find information on this important piece of LGBTQIA+ history.

2. Supports LGBTQIA+ Individuals

LGBTQIA+ artists and creators have been historically marginalized due to their identity. There was a time, not long ago, when your career would end as a result of coming out. Now that there are more and more creatives able to have careers despite, or even because of, their identity. Brands should support those individuals via including them in their ad campaigns or creating a product inspired by them. Smirnoff’s partnership with drag queen Alyssa Edwards is a great example.

1. Gives Brands a Reason to Donate to Show they Care

A lot of brands have donated part of their proceeds to charity. LGBTQIA+ people are thus given the resources they need to survive and thrive.

Les Agamemnonz – Artemis

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French instrumental outfit Les Agamemnonz have shared their new jovial single “Artemis” via a premiere with Aesthetic Magazine. The song was taken from their upcoming album Amateurs due out June 11, 2021 on Hi-Tide Recordings. The band describes the newest song as a “chivalrous dance dedicated to wilderness and childbirth,” a nod to the Greek goddess of the same name. Fans can check out “Artemis” now.

On “Artemis”, the band shares, “This tune is a tribute to Joe Meek, who can be considered as the father of [our] home studio. We managed to get a functioning Clavioline, a legendary forerunner to the analog synthesizer. We recorded this track on a Sunday morning, after a short night sleeping on the studio’s floor between the gears. The night before, we just recorded Diana, a single we released in 2018, and Benjamin woke up with an idea. He said: I think we should try an instro version of this one. With coffee in one hand, we took our instruments and started recording this new version. We felt it sounded great, but we had to wait two more years to be fully satisfied, as one thing was missing: a real clavioline.”

Ahead of the release of Amateurs the band has shared additional singles: “Xiphias“, “Mount Capitola“, and “No Shoes No Service,” which highlight the French band’s American influence. On the upcoming album the band shares, “The making of this album has been a very long process, and we are very excited to make it public soon! Especially during times when gigs don’t exist anymore, it is heartwarming to be able to share new music with people.”

Playing on the ambivalence of the word that designates the enamored connoisseur as well as the non-professional, Amateurs is paradoxically the band’s most ambitious production, both in writing, arrangements, orchestration, and recording. In addition to references to their spiritual father Joe Meek (“Artemis”), or to a more French legacy (“Conseils de la Fe des Lilas”), it is unquestionably their most “American” record, with clear references to the golden age of studios (“Theme from ‘Amateurs’ “), to a certain cinema (“Redwood Heights”), or to more personal experiences of touring the United States (“No Shoes No Service”). It is in all coherence that this album is also their first collaboration with the American label Hi-Tide Recordings.

For the past decade, Les Agamemnonz have performed hundreds of gigs, in concert halls, art centers, apartments, on village squares, beaches, boats, etc., across Europe and the United States. Never leaving their Greek “chitons”, playing barefoot come rain or shine, they get eclectic audiences to dance, ignite all age groups and, being instrumental, cross easily all language barriers.

If the craze they generate goes far beyond the borders of their genre niche, it is however the surf music community who give them the greatest honors, by placing their previous album in 3rd position of the 100 Best Surf Records of the Decade or by positioning them as headliner of the Asbury Park Surf Music Festival.

As acknowledged figures of this international scene, Les Agamemnonz stand out by their ability to quote the classics (The Ventures, The Astronauts, etc.) while developing a sound and a writing of their own. The tightness of their rhythmics and the originality of their arrangements draw from their deep interest in all forms of electric instrumental music that have flourished all over the world (Eleki music in Japan, Rautalanka in Finland, instro in France, electric Cumbia, Sega, etc.).

About Les Agamemnonz

Les Agamemnonz is composed of Benjamin Bonaventure (lead guitar), Simon Ripoll-Hurier (rhythm guitar), Gregory Bonaventure (bass), and Andr Pasquet (drums). Additional musicians featured on the album include Michael Jacques (french horn, trombone, trumpet, flugelhorn), Frederic Jouhannet (violins), Antoine Berland (medium grand piano), and Zach Robbins (field recording).

Audio Chateau × 24kGoldn – Warriors Freestyle

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Bay Area native 24kGoldn is having a breakout year with his smash hit “Mood,” which spent eight weeks atop the Billboard 100. After releasing his debut album El Dorado, 24kGoldn is putting his voice and talent to a new theme song created for his beloved six-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors to anchor their new Beyond28 podcast. The track, titled “Warriors’ Freestyle,” will open the new, monthly podcast, which extends the conversation around Black History Month outside the confines of February to celebrate Black History year-round. “Warriors’ Freestyle” was written by 24kGoldn and production collective Audio Chateau, and was produced by Audio Chateau (Jared Gutstadt x Kinder). Listen to the track HERE.

Created by the Golden State Warriors and Goodby Silverstein & Partners (GS&P), in partnership with Chase and podcast studio and audio entertainment producers, Audio Up, the Beyond28 podcast made its official debut on April 21 with series host and narrator, ESPN’s Marc J. Spears. Featuring an array of notable figures, artists, activists and community members, new episodes will premiere once a month over the course of the next year, with each episode taking on a new theme. In the latest May episode, the show discusses topics surrounding mental health for Mental Health Awareness Month.

The podcast is a continuation of the Beyond28 platform, which was established by the Golden State Warriors and GS&P in February of 2020. The initial launch included a short film featuring Stephen Curry flipping through a calendar and exclaiming with each turn of the page, stating: “This is Black History Month. And so is this.” Since then, Beyond28’s goal has been to extend Black History Month into a yearlong celebration beyond the 28 days of February. While continuing to honor trailblazers who have helped shape Black history, Beyond28 also strives to acknowledge today’s important Black History makers as well as those who have made a significant impact within their community. The Beyond28 podcast will continue all year long, providing a thoughtful conversation and embodying the Warriors’ desire to celebrate the contributions of the Black community every day.

The Beyond28 podcast is available now wherever podcasts are available. “Warriors’ Freestyle” from 24kGoldn and Audio Chateau is available on all streaming platforms now.

Rock ‘N’ Roll Running Series Returns November

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When postponing the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Nashville event, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running series team shared that the new event date would be contingent upon the release of the Tennessee Titans home schedule. With that recent announcement, they have worked diligently with local officials and stakeholders to finalize a new 2021 event date that aligns with the community calendar of events and we are now pleased to share that the St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series Nashville will return on Saturday, November 20, 2021. The team is working hard to create a great event for our participants that meets the guidelines and recommendations set by public health entities as it relates to COVID-19.

All registered participants will be receiving an email with more information. We thank our participants for their commitment and look forward to returning to Nashville with a great event this November.

About Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series

The Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series is the world’s largest running series taking part in destination locations around the world every year. Established in 1998, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Running Series’ simple idea of making running fun has transformed both the U.S. and global running landscape by infusing the course with live bands, cheer teams, and entertaining water stations, creating a block-party atmosphere for participants and spectators alike. Focused on running, music, and community, race weekend kicks off with a free Health & Fitness Expo showcasing the latest in running gear, sports apparel, health, and nutritional information, and much more. Events culminate with an entertaining finish-line festival featuring some of the biggest names in music, with past performances including Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, O.A.R. Aloe Blacc, Pitbull, Flo Rida, The Band Perry, Fitz, and the Tantrums, the Goo Goo Dolls, and Bret Michaels.

Sleepy Hallow – Chicken/Mi No Sabe

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Winners Circle Wednesdays continues with the release of two new tracks and video by Sleepy Hallow – “Chicken” and “Mi No Sabe.” Click HERE to watch the video for Mi No Sabe. The singles and video delivers more heat for the highly anticipated release of Sleepy Hallow’s debut album Still Sleep? on June 2 via Winners Circle Entertainment/RCA Records. When Sleepy hits, he hits hard, which is what he does with this incredible track, accompanied by a surreal and colorful music video.

Still Sleep? will include previously released tracks “2 Sauce” and “2055,” which gave listeners a preview of what’s to come on the Great John-produced album. Sleepy transforms his lowkey persona on each of the 14 tracks with hard-hitting lyrics, signifying to the masses to not sleep on his undeniable skills.

About Sleepy Hallow

Hailing from East Flatbush, Brooklyn and one of the breakout stars of the Brooklyn Drill hip-hop scene, Sleepy Hallow came to prominence in 2020 with the RIAA Gold-certified hit “Deep End Freestyle,” which featured vocals by Fousheé. Recently selected as one of HipHopDX Rising Stars 2020 and BET Amplified Artist of the Month (January), Hallow’s impressive repertoire of EPs – Sleepy Hallow Presents: Sleepy For President, The Black House, Don’t Sleep, has earned him coveted “best of” lists recognition from XXL, Complex, UpRoxx and more.