Australia’s pioneer of plant-based dining, Shannon Martinez, to join renowned mixologist, Andrea Gualdi, to helm newly refreshed Alibi Bar & Dining
Shannon Martinez, the powerhouse behind two of Australia’s most prolific plant-based businesses, Smith & Daughters and Lona Misa, will join renowned mixologist Andrea Gualdi, to lead the evolution of Alibi Bar & Dining, her first foray in Sydney.
Alibi Bar & Dining, located on Woolloomooloo’s famed Finger Wharf, will relaunch in late January with a brand new plant-based Mediterranean-inspired offering set inside a newly refurbished, ‘indoor-alfresco’ dining room.
Martinez said: “I’m thrilled to be part of Alibi’s new direction. This will be my first project in Sydney, and I look forward to bringing a taste of plant-based Latin cuisine to the bay side and giving Sydneysiders their own version of Smith & Daughters. I love working with Ovolo; our venture in Melbourne, Lona Misa, holds an extremely special place in my heart and I’m super excited to be able to continue this relationship in a new part of the country”.
Diners can expect a passionately crafted menu that leans heavily on Martinez’s Spanish heritage. To be implemented by award-winning, executive chef Jiwon Do (formerly Hippopotamus Restaurant & Bar, Wellington), the menu will include Martinez’s signature dishes.
Ovolo’s creative beverage director, renowned mixologist Andrea Gualdi (ex-Maybe Sammy), has curated a fresh and sustainable drinks menu that takes inspiration from the Mediterranean style of drinking. The extensive drinks list is set to include a collection of cocktails that pay homage to Mediterranean G&Ts and spritzes, high tea cocktails, zero proof options and a range of beers. The wine list will be sustainably sourced from smaller Australian producers using Mediterranean varieties, with around 30% of the wine list to be vegan friendly.
Designed by award-winning interior design and architecture studio, Luchetti Krelle, the enchanting glasshouse structure exudes a sense of natural theatre and brings the outdoors to an indoor environment with thriving greenery, patterned mosaics and rattan seating. It’s a magical setting for guests to enjoy world-class drinks alongside garden-fresh Mediterranean cuisine served with flair and finesse.
About Ovolo Hotels
Ovolo Hotels is an independent hospitality company that owns and operates a collection of individually designed hotels. Founded in 2002, this family-owned and privately-operated business now runs four hotels in Hong Kong, and six hotels across Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane. Ovolo also recently launched a new brand, Mojo Nomad, in Aberdeen Harbour Hong Kong. Mojo Nomad is a cohabitation concept for global nomads that combines travel, lifestyle and community at its core and will be entering the Australian market in the near future
Ovolo Hotels, the award-winning lifestyle hotel collection with properties in Australia, Hong Kong and Bali, has announced the launch of its brand-wide “Do Good, Feel Good” sustainability initiative, including the “Green Perk” pledge to plant a tree, in association with Eden Reforestation Projects, for every direct booking at its hotels.
“Do Good, Feel Good” follows Ovolo’s vegetarian “Plant’d” pledge and features the following key highlights across the two key pillars of “Planet” and “People”:
PLANET
Beginning on November 1, 2022, Ovolo will partner with Eden Reforestation Projects to plant one tree in Nepal for every direct booking at any Ovolo property, as part of its “Green Perk” program.
Working with EarthCheck to ensure all actions are science-backed, strategic and sustainable.
The Plant’d Pledge which promotes vegetarian and plant-based cuisine across Ovolo Hotels restaurants and bars.
A commitment to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030.
Designing new hotels responsibly to include sustainable materials and fittings and achieve Green Certification for all Ovolo-owned new-build hotels.
Eliminating single-use plastics by 2023.
Measuring and managing carbon emissions, water, waste and energy consumption.
Sourcing locally and organically wherever possible.
PEOPLE
Protecting the mental and physical well-being of employees and increasing development and learning opportunities for all.
Providing education, nutrition and healthcare for disadvantaged children in Indonesia and Hong Kong:
Ovolo has partnered with Bali Children’s Foundation, which help thousands of children complete school, find employment, and improve their lives and the life of their community. Ovolo has sponsored a school in Bali with classroom upgrades, class delivery for a year and a stationery kit for each student in the elementary school of SDN 3 Sidetapa in North Bali. www.balichildrenfoundation.org
Ensuring a 50/50 breakdown of women and men in management positions by 2025.
Doubling fundraising efforts by 2025.
Promoting local art, culture and history to support local communities.
“Our commitments go beyond environmental indicators and include issues such as celebrating diversity and inclusion, supporting children and schools, sourcing locally and building hotels that give back to their communities in a meaningful way,” said Dave Baswal, Ovolo Group Chief Executive Officer. “We want to make better choices for ourselves and the planet and play our part in ensuring a better future for all.”
Whenever guests book directly with Ovolo, they will receive a message after their stay with details of where their tree has been planted and the corresponding impact on the environment. In the spirit of transparency to its guests, staff and investors, and in a continual effort to improve its sustainability credentials, Ovolo has also committed to producing an annual sustainability report, verified by a third-party auditor.
“Transparency and alignment with initiatives and sustainability development goals is key for us; we don’t just want to talk the talk, but we want to be held accountable to walk the walk too,” Dave Baswal concluded.
The Ovolo Group was founded by entrepreneur Girish Jhunjhnuwala and first entered the real estate market in 2002; then further expanded into the hotel industry in 2010. Ovolo Hotels quickly became one of Hong Kong and Australia’s most dynamic independent owner operated hospitality firms by providing guests with the best in effortless living across hotels and food and beverage outlets.
The Ovolo Group is a collection of contemporary hotels that keep you connected to the little luxuries you love, all effortlessly included. The company prides itself on being in touch with the modern traveler through award-winning interior designs, detail-driven comforts, complimentary value-added services like the mini bar and breakfast, with cutting-edge technology. Ovolo Hotels have been acknowledged for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence, receiving the accolade “Hotel Brand of the Year”, at the 2019 and 2020 HM Awards.
A proud Hong Kong brand, Ovolo Group remains a family-owned and privately-operated business operating four hotels and three restaurants in Hong Kong, and eight hotels and seven restaurants across Australia in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane.
Ovolo also has the By Ovolo Collective within its portfolio of hotels, a distinctive collection of four hotels each one unique, each one special, the more guests explore, the more they’ll find. These include Nishi Apartments in Canberra Australia, The Sheung Wan by Ovolo and The Aberdeen Harbour in Hong Kong, and Mamaka Kuta Beach in Bali Indonesia.
As of March 2021, Dash Living collaborated with Ovolo Hotels to launch two new generation of serviced rental solutions in Hong Kong. A total of 135 rooms and suites that form part of a new generation of serviced rental solutions for hyper-mobile millennials will be available for booking. The Aberdeen by Dash Living, soon-to-be converted from Mojo Nomad By Ovolo, offers 79 rooms ranging from studios to executive suites. The 56-room The Sheung Wan By Ovolo, only remaining under Ovolo’s management for stays under 7 days, will offer units from studio, one bedroom, to family room options.
Ovolo acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we are located. We recognize their continuing connection to land, waters and culture, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
One of the most talked-about actors of Fox’s hit series, The Cleaning Lady, Martha Millan was born in the Philippines, and raised in Sydney. In Australia, she got the acting bug when she took a theatrical high school elective. Upon graduation, She was accepted into the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (NYC).
Millan is best known for her work in “The OA,” “Succession,” “Entourage,” “Madam Secretary,” “Strong Medicine,” all three primary shows of the “Law & Order” franchise, THE GREAT NEW WONDERFUL with Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jim Parsons and Will Arnett. Of late, she starred alongside of Danny Glover in the critically acclaimed film, THE DRUMMER.
In addition to being a relevant talent, Martha holds acting workshops for children. Pre-pandemic, she’s conducted after school programs at Public Schools Brooklyn. Moreover, she produced an online drama education curriculum for 10-16 years old. Some of the participants are from Brazil, Portugal and Israel.
As a globetrotter, Martha has visited a plethora of countries: Spain, Greece, Aruba, Peru, Indonesia, Guatemala and Panama.
To maintain her youthful exterior, Martha maintains a rigorous fitness regimen eith running and high-intensity training.
FUN FACT
Millan was one of the global ambassadors of Clairol Natural Instincts and the face of Nooch, a restaurant in New York City.
The world elite of skateboarding descends on the Midwest! Monster Energy congratulates Brazilian team rider Luiz Francisco on taking second place in the Men’s Skateboard Park final on July 30, 2022. In the night session at Lauridsen Skatepark in Des Moines, Iowa, the 22-year-old from São Paulo rose to the podium with a perfect run in America’s largest outdoor skatepark.
In Friday’s Men’s Skateboard Street final, 29-year-old Kelvin Hoefler from São Paulo, Brazil, secured a podium spot by taking third place against the world elite in a down-to-the-wire contest.
For the second consecutive year, the summer edition of Dew Tour was contested at Lauridsen Skatepark in downtown Des Moines. Built and designed by expert park builders California Skateparks, the competition-grade facility is the largest of its kind in the United States. Spanning 88,000 square feet in size, the concrete outdoor park – operated as a free public park – offers a technical street course as well as a vertical bowl section.
On two action-packed days, more than 40 male and female professional skateboarders and adaptive athletes from across the globe descended on the Midwestern city to compete in Street and Park disciplines from July 29-30,2022. The skateboard contest and festival were open to the public free of charge and broadcast live via web stream across various platforms. The schedule also included the Battle of the Shops contest, featuring skate teams from regional skate shops in a Street competition.
Here’s how the action unfolded for team Monster Energy in Des Moines this weekend:
The level of progression was on full display in the Men’s Skateboard Park final on Saturday night. The California Skateparks-designed bowl course featured an array of pools, vertical extensions, wallrides, banks, and a centerpiece volcano for creative lines.
The roster of twelve finalists, including several X Games gold medalists and World Cup winners, hailed from three countries: Australia, Brazil, and the United States. Monster Energy‘s Luiz Francisco came to Dew Tour 2022 fresh off claiming the bronze medal at X Games 2022 in Vista the previous weekend.
On Run 1 of the final, the 22-year-old from São Paulo, Brazilian, put down a perfect routine stacked with his signature selection of technical tricks: frontside lipslide the deep end, huge frontside boneless off the flat bank, varial kickflip Indy, hardflip body varial Indy over the hip, frontside feeble grind the extension, kickflip melon over the corner, Indy nosebone, kickflip backside 50-50 pull-in over the center ledge, and frontside blunt earned Francisco 86.33 points and second place.
Also putting on a strong performance in the final, Monster Energy’s Kieran Woolley looked like a lock-in for a podium spot. On the strength of a perfect first run, the 18-year-old from Minnamurra, Australia, held down third place for the majority of the final session.
A perfect routine including backside boneless off the extension box above the bank, frontside nosegrind the vert extension, frontside Smith grind the deep end, frontside boneless the bank, giant backside 540 nosegrab, kickflip Indy over the hip, backside Smith grind the bowl corner, alley-oop frontside 50-50, backside air to disaster, backside wall bash the centerpiece, and Miller flip earned Woolley a strong 84.00-points score. But when the action moved to final attempts of the night, Woolley found himself leapfrogged by Keegan Palmer sliding into third place on Run 3.
Nevertheless, Woolley is currently emerging as an unstoppable force in park skating after claiming the gold medal in Skatepark Park at X Games 2022 the previous weekend and winning the bowl contest at the Copenhagen Open this summer. Keep an eye on this kid!
The Men’s Skateboard Street final on Friday night featured twelve of the world’s best street skateboarders, representing five countries: Australia, Brazil, France, Japan, and the United States. The field included Olympic Street Skateboarding gold medalist Yuto Horigome as well as Monster Energy‘s Hoefler as the silver medalist from the Tokyo 2020 games.
The rivalry was alive and well during the final session, judged on the highest scoring 45-second run out of three. But as the battle heated up, Monster Energy‘s Kelvin Hoefler was having difficulty stringing together a flawless run, while Japan’s Horigome and Portugal’s Gustavo Ribeiro dueled for the top spot.
Ultimately, Hoefler posted his strongest run on the final attempt of the weekend, thereby using his last chance to rise to the podium. In his last run, Hoefler landed fakie ollie switch frontside bluntslide the rail, 360 kickflip the bump, kickflip backside lipslide the rail, frontside tailslide to fakie the gap ledge, Caballerial frontside boardslide fakie the rail, kickflip frontside lipslide fakie the bump to rail, Half Cab nosegrind 180 the Hubba, and Caballerial backside tailslide fakie the rail for 86.00 points and third place.
Kelvin Hoefler represented Brazil and earned the silver medal in Men’s Skateboard Street at the Tokyo Olympics. He owns five X Games medals, including two gold. Hoefler has taken first place in high-profile competitions such as Dew Tour, Street League Skateboarding, and in 2017 was included in the Guinness Book of World Records for “most wins of the World Cup Skateboarding men’s street world rankings”.
Night Tales Released Official Cover of The Cure’s, “Lovesong,” Ahead of Debut Album on June 24.
After relocating to Los Angeles, the Australian act is ready to bring their internationally acclaimed catalog to iconic venues and festivals throughout the Summer.
To sum it up, Night Tales are doing things differently. The enigmatic Aussie duo stormed onto the scene in 2018 behind viral single releases that conveyed their alluring blend of electronica packed with singer-songwriter sensibilities. Pushing an identity of swag & soul in indie dance music, Night Tales is bridging the gap between urban & electronica.
Night Tales is leading a wave of progressive electronic acts that implement real vocals, storytelling and live instruments within a DJ environment. Their acclaim has yet to reach such heights as it did when Night Tales was released an official cover of The Cure’s classic, “Lovesong.”
Quote from Night Tales:
“Throughout the pandemic and especially in Australia, we lived under extreme lockdown measures. Literally confined to our homes with only one hour of exercise a day and allowance to get essential goods. This meant no studio time or the ability to work together in the same space. So I (Aaron) continued to produce ideas and in turn send them to Kamaliza for him to create lyrical & vocal ideas. He sent back this amazing idea and melody, which was an adaptation of iconic British band The Cure and their track, “Lovesong.” Immediately we knew it was special.”
The duo has chosen to invigorate this growing genre space with a vein of synthwave music that blends 80’s nostalgia with modern electronica. In April, the producers released their first 2022 single, “Thinking About You,” which previewed their forthcoming album set for release following a Summer of exploring their new home in America. Last month, single no.2, “Take It Slow,” follows up on the vocal and melody-led dance music that packs the crossover appeal befitting Night Tales’ enormous potential and acclaim thus far.
Spirited production and intrapersonal lyricism mark the first glimpse into the 2022 release calendar for Night Tales. The producers offer high paced production, synths and echoed vocals to present a soundscape that is both emotional and energetic. While Night Tales offer the storytelling and lyrics for widespread accessibility, their roots in electronica provide credence to their ability to connect with both mainstream and festival audiences.
The Night Tales project has been nearly a decade in the making. One half of the duo, Aaron Bannie was born in the U.K. before moving to Ibiza, where he learned how to mix and play on vinyl. He would later relocate to Australia in hopes to elevate his own electronic project, Third Floor. Kamaliza Salamba is an Aussie native, and also had his own career in music prior to Night Tales. He played in various bands, in addition to his own R&B electronic project, Kamaliza.
The two connected via a booking agent, and almost immediately began collaborating on a house-infused, singer-songwriter project. With a production partner in Bannie, Salamba was able to focus more on his skills as a vocalist. Influenced by acts like the Talking Heads, the two dove into more thematic compositions that cover a wide range of music. Salamba writes the vocals and melodies, while Bannie provides his own vocals in addition to running drum and trigger pads.
This arrangement gives them the chance to take all original songs and break them down in a totally different experience and energy. In 2018, the duo struck a 3-single deal with the German label, Majestic Casual. The label has provided a home for innovative acts like Edamame and Two Feet, so it made for a perfect fit for an enigmatic act like Night Tales.
Following the deal, the two went to the studio and quickly wrote a series of singles, including ”Friends.” This first series put onto the display the representation of human emotion and personal relationships. “Friends” would go on to rack up 5.7 million Spotify streams globally. To the delight of the duo, they discovered they already had a listening audience overseas in America and Europe. This lifelong benchmark for success and key to traveling to America came right as the pandemic swiftly took over the globe.
Stuck inside their home studio during the pandemic, the two reacted by doubling down on their creativity by committing to monthly single releases. Fans rewarded their output, as Night Tales’ monthly listeners rose to 300+ monthly and their music placed in several key Spotify Editorial playlists.
Night Tales’ mission is to pioneer urban culture in the alternative electronic music scene. Their hope is to diversify and represent people of color in electronic music – championing acceptance and accessibility.
The producers are lined up for a big Summer in 2022, with upcoming performances at Electric Forest and Breakaway Festival, in addition to their own tour dates in cities like SF, LA, CHI, Denver, Toronto, Detroit, MIA, and NYC. Their forthcoming album is set for release in October.
More from Night Tales:
“The Cure’s original version of ‘Lovesong’ was created and performed within a band structure, so all live instrumentation. Our version sits in our world which is completely electronic. How we made our own version besides the electronic creation was to accompany The Cure’s “Lovesong” lyrics with our own additional & completely original vocals which are; “follow your light, follow it deep inside, open your eyes, rise up to the morning light.
“We are so extremely humbled & excited that Robert Smith and the cure estate gave us their seal of approval of reimagining their timeless classic.”
As we surpass the midway point of 2022, it’s safe to say this year has been nothing short of earth-shaking. From the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the landmark ruling in Roe v. Wade, to the devastating number of mass shootings that have struck the United States, 2022 has been full of alarming headlines. Let’s take a look at some of the most prominent stories for the month of July.
Heatwaves in Europe
Recently, many countries in Europe, such as Britain, Italy, France, Spain, Germany have experienced unusually high temperatures, with local highs reaching 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius), which caused numerous wildfires.
Forest fires also broke out in many parts of Italy. One of the fires threatened to cut power and water to parts of the northeastern city of Trieste.
Meanwhile, the homes in Winnington, England were also damaged by the local fire. Some residents say they lost everything in the fire.
Scientists warn that extreme heat is exacerbated by climate change, making heat waves more intense and frequent and that the dry weather is likely to fuel wildfires.
Shinzo Abe dies from two gunshots
On July 8th, former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe suffered a terrorist attack while giving a speech in Nara city. Although Shinzo Abe had been hospitalized soon after being shot, the local fire department reported that he stopped cardiopulmonary function immediately after falling to the ground.
The incident occurred at around 11:30 a.m. local time as Abe made a speech in front of about 30 people near a subway station in Nara city, where he was campaigning for a liberal Democratic Party candidate in the upper house election. An unidentified man shot Abe from his back around 3 meters away. The Nara fire department said Abe lost consciousness, breath, and heartbeat after falling to the ground. Sixty-seven years old Abe was taken by helicopter to a hospital for emergency treatment and declared dead at 5:03 p.m. local time. The Japan Fire and Disaster Management Agency later confirmed that Abe was shot in the left chest and the right side of the neck.
The suspect was arrested at the scene. According to Japanese media reports, the suspect is a man called Tetsuya Yamagami, 41 years old, a resident of Nara. He confessed to killing Abe with his homemade weapon and holding a grudge against a specific religious group. According to Tetsuya Yanagami, he attacked Abe in the end because his original target, one of the leaders of that group, was not there, and Abe was tied to that religious group.
At the end of June, US President Joe Biden signed a gun safety bill, almost one month following the catastrophic Uvalde elementary school massing shooting. The bill entails granting “groups [the ability] to petition courts to remove weapons from people deemed a threat to themselves or others.”
Other details of the bill include halting individuals that have been convicted of domestic abuse to own a gun, as well as increasing background checks on individuals from the ages of 18-to-21-years-old pursuing to purchase a gun.
Jayland Walker murdered in police shooting
25-year-old Jayland Walker was shot dead in a car/foot pursuit after he was stopped by police officers for traffic and equipment violations in Akron, Ohio. Recent video footage from the bodycams of officers involved in the pursuit and on the scene have just been released, and protests have undergone seeking justice surrounding the confrontation.
The chase began when Walker left the scene of a traffic stop on June 27. In the video footage release to the public, narration speaks that “a sound consistent with a gunshot can be heard,” with officers thinking that the noise came from Walker’s car.
After officers continued to pursue Walker, he stopped his car and began to run, while tasers were used to attempt to halt him. Akron Police Chief Stephen Mylett stated that after this, Walker “stopped and quickly turned towards the pursuing officers.” Walker was shot then, pronounced dead at the scene, unarmed.
While the shooting is under investigation, it has been revealed that a medical examiner found that Walker endured around 60 gunshot injuries from officers. Protests have undergone since Walker was killed, continuing to raise more awareness to the scarce gun control in the United States.
9 dead amongst weekend of Chicago shootings
Amidst the holiday weekend of the 4th of July, an array of shootings took place in Chicago, Illinois. A fatal shootout took place on the evening of July 1, and more shootings continued throughout the weekend. The devastating array of shootings left 9 dead and around 57 people suffering gunshot injuries.
Highland Park Fourth of July parade shooting leaves at least 6 dead
A gunman disrupted the Highland Park Fourth of July parade in Illinois this Independence Day. The shooting left an estimated 6 people dead with other two dozen suffering injuries from the catastrophe. The suspected gunman is allegedly a white man between the age of 18- to 20-years-old, and has not been identified yet.
Ukraine news : the latest Russian invasion update
Russia claims to have destroyed a mercenary deployment point in Mykolaiv. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Igor Konashenkov, said in his morning war report that the Russian Aerospace Forces attacked this place with high-precision weapons.
Player Brittney Griner’s desperate letter of help to Joe Biden
The WNBA player has been detained in Russia since February and she is accused of carrying cartridges with hashish oil when she was going to take a plane and could face a sentence of 10 years in prison. Brittney wrote to the president of the United States, Joe Biden, and asked for his help to get out of the Russian prison and return to her home as soon as possible.
Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker break the silence on the recent hospitalization of the drummer of Blink 182
The couple wanted to post their opinions about Barker‘s recent hospitalization on their verified social media accounts. “I went in for an endoscopy Monday feeling great,” Barker posted in a note posted on her Instagram stories. “But after dinner, I developed excruciating pain and have been hospitalized ever since.”
Travis explained that during his endoscopy, he had “a very small polyp removed right in a very sensitive area, usually handled by specialists, which unfortunately damaged a critical pancreatic drainage tube.” “This resulted in severe pancreatitis that was life-threatening,” he added. “I am very, very grateful that with the intensive treatment I am now much better.”
Copenhagen: At least 3 dead and several injured in a mass shooting in a shopping mall that occurred this Sunday in Denmark
Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, assured that the authorities continue to investigate what happened. “Denmark was hit by a cruel attack on Sunday night. Several were killed. Even more were injured,” she said.
What is known about the attacker? A 22-year-old man was arrested in connection with the attack. On the morning of this Monday (July 4th), the Danish capital’s police chief, Soeren Thomassen, declared that his department does not believe that the attack was a terrorist event and assured that the suspect has a history of mental health problems.
Egypt: closes its beaches in the Red Sea due to a series of shark attacks
The Egyptian authorities closed several beaches on the Red Sea coast due to the death of two tourists due to different shark attacks. The regional governor said one of the victims was a 68-year-old Austrian woman whose arm was ripped off by a shark while she was swimming near the city of Hurghada.
It is rare for sharks to attack people in the Red Sea, but this year, there have been several incidents involving tourists.
British Airways cancels more than 1,000 summer flights from Gatwick and Heathrow
BA will cancel more than 1,000 additional flights this summer from Gatwick and Heathrow as staff shortages continue to affect its operations. More than 100,000 travelers planning to visit popular holiday destinations such as Spain or Portugal will be affected, although British Airways will mainly reduce routes with multiple daily departures.
Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin breaks his silence after being denounced for domestic violence
Through a statement shared on Twitter, Ricky Martin assures that the accusations are “completely false” and that he will face the process responsibly. As it is a case under the Law for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, the Puerto Rico police have not revealed the name of the complainant.
As it is a case under the Law for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, the Puerto Rico police have not revealed the name of the complainant. In this way, his identity has been the subject of numerous speculations. As stated by the Puerto Rican newspaper El Vocero, the order indicates that Ricky Martin and the person who has denounced him were together for seven months and separated two years ago.
The measure aims to “address the current situation with extraordinary means and powers, with relief interventions and assistance to the affected population and restore the functionality of public and strategic services and strategic network infrastructures”, the Italian Government has revealed in a statement picked up by the transalpine press.
Australia’s largest city, Sydney, is affected by flooding
The floods in Sydney affect more than 30,000 inhabitants. Besides, mountainous seas and wild weather along the New South Wales coast thwarted plans to salvage a wrecked cargo ship with 21 crew members. Emergency crews carried out 100 rescues overnight Tuesday of people trapped in cars on flooded roads or in flooded houses in the Sydney area, State Emergency Service manager Ashley Sullivan said.
According to the local authorities, the incident happened shortly after midnight when a group of men armed with rifles and 9-millimeter pistols entered the bar. They shooted at the customers, causing 12 people dead at the scene and 2 more were cleared dead after being sent to the hospital. Police said that the suspects are still on the run.
Days of torrential rain have caused waterways to overflow and dams to overflow, producing a fourth flood emergency in 16 months in parts of the city of 5 million people.
Thor: Love and Thunder
On July 8 we will be able to enjoy the latest film in the Marvel Saga, directed by Taika Waititi with Chris Hemsworth again in the skin of the Asgardian, the return of Natalie Portman as Jane Foster and Christian Bale playing the villain Gorr, the Butcher of the Gods.
We are facing one of the biggest events of the summer, and many fanatics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are eager to know how many surprises they will discover within it. Who knows! Perhaps there is not room for so many, at least if we look at the supposed length of the film that would have been leaked by some of the American theater chains, and that would leave us with the shortest Marvel movie since 2018. Are you ready to watch it? Coming soon in cinemas.
UK government crisis
The mismanagement of the scandals of the celebrations in the Coronavirus pandemic and in the ranks of his party knocked down the prime minister. On Wednesday, Boris Johnson continued to fight to stay in power as prime minister, in turn sacking cabinet minister Michael Gove after his government was rocked by a wave of ministerial resignations.
In a statement to Parliament on Wednesday, Sajid Javid, a British Conservative Party politician, said after his resignation that “the problem starts from the top and that is not going to change.”
10-year-old rape victim travels across state lines to undergo abortion
One of the most shocking and prominent stories that broke the internet amidst the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade involves a 10-year-old rape victim. The young girl was refused the ability to have an abortion in her home state of Ohio. While she was six weeks and three days pregnant, this exceeded the ban in Ohio to perform an abortion at six weeks.
In Ohio, a child abuse doctor referred the victim to an obstetrician-gynecologist in Indiana to perform the procedure. She then traveled to undergo the practice, where the abortion ban had not been implemented. The Supreme Court’s decision shifted the rules on abortions in Ohio, where previously abortions were not banned until later in a pregnancy.
James Caan dies at the age of 82
James Caan, the actor who played Sonny Corleone in The Godfather has died. The American actor died on the night of July 6, as reported by his relatives on Twitter. “The family appreciates the love and condolences and asks that their privacy continue to be respected at this difficult time.”
Brittney Griner pleads guilty to drug charges in Russia
WNBA Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner has been stuck in Russia since February of 2022. Griner was at the Sheremetyevo International Airport when officials found small units of hashish oil in her belongings. Once discovered, she was taken into custody immediately, facing up to 10 years in prison in Russia for “large-scale transportation of drugs,” though her cartridge contained less than one gram of the marijuana concentrate.
Amongst the travesty, Griner appeared in trial this month with images of her handcuffed being posted all over social media. She has pleaded guilty to her charges, seemingly in hopes of returning to the US quicker. Griner sent a handwritten letter to the President of the US Joe Biden expressing her concern and fear for her freedom. Segments of the heart wrenching letter were released to the media by Griner’s representatives.
“As I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments, I’m terrified I might be here forever,” Griner expressed.
She continued to the president, stating, “I realize you are dealing with so much, but please don’t forget about me and the other American Detainees. Please do all you can to bring us home. I voted for the first time in 2020 and I voted for you. I believe in you. I still have so much good to do with my freedom that you can help restore. I miss my wife! I miss my family! I miss my teammates! It kills me to know they are suffering so much right now. I am grateful for whatever you can do at this moment to get me home.”
With no way to measure how long Griner could be held in Russia, her teammates and supporters have taken a stand to urge for her release. As a Black, LGBTQ WNBA player, many have questioned the treatment of Griner. Her coach presented this point, stating, “If it was LeBron, he’d be home, right? […] It’s a statement about the value of women. It’s a statement about the value of a Black person. It’s a statement about the value of a gay person.”
The chain (Vkusno i Tochka) that replaces McDonald’s in Russia runs out of fries due to the sanctions for the war in Ukraine
Vkusno i Tochka (Delicious and Point), the fast food chain that took over McDonald’s restaurants in Russia in June is now facing a growing shortage of French fries due to Western sanctions against the Russian capital, according to RBK TV reported.
Balenciaga showcases celebrity models at Paris Fashion Week
Kim Kardashian, Dua Lipa, Naomi Campbell, Nicole Kidman become the stars of the Balenciaga fashion show.
Balenciaga’s Fall 2022 Couture Collection fashion show transformed celebrities into the best ambassadors of the firm. Paris has become the center of fashion in recent days, because of Haute Couture Week. The great opportunity has brought together the most recognized faces in the sector, and amazing everyone with one of the most surprising Balenciaga fashion shows to date.
Kim Kardashian, the brand’s muse, melted into a striking black dress. She showed off the same color Naomi wore, but with a more voluminous design. Dua Lipa dazzled in a yellow one-shoulder dress, while Nicole triumphed in a mopped, long, metallic design.
The stars were able to parade through the impressive Balenciaga salons wearing the latest haute couture collection from the house, becoming the protagonists of the event and fashion week in the Parisian city. In this new Balenciaga collection, a common thread between the technological future and the past was seen, where a tribute was made to the work of the founder of the house. “It starts in the future and then sinks into the past, in the Infanta dresses that later became the origin of the house,” said Balenciaga designer and creative director Demna Gvasalia.
These uncovered faces, some of them world-famous, contrasted with the mannequins whose faces the creative director of the ‘Maison’ wanted to cover with black enameled polyurethane helmets, made by the Mercedes design team that made it impossible to identify those who they paraded
During these days, we have also been able to enjoy the designs of other major brands such as Chanel, Giorgio Armani, or Christian Dior. Although without hesitation, Balenciaga has overseen shaking up the ‘fashion’ universe at fashion week in Paris.
Oprah Winfrey’s father, Vernon Winfrey, passes away
At 89 years-old, Vernon Winfrey passed away after battling cancer. His daughter, Oprah Winfrey, released a statement via Instagram, where she stated, “Yesterday with family surrounding his bedside I had the sacred honor of witnessing the man responsible for my life, take his last breath, […] We could feel Peace enter the room at his passing.”
Big Brother 24 premieres
The 24th season of CBS’ Big Brother premiered on July 6 with an all-new cast. 16 contestants entered the Big Brother house, where they’re in for a summer full of game play, strategy, and challenges, all while making life-transforming memories. Who will conquer the competition and take home the $750,000 prize? We can’t wait to see!
Ukraine: 15 killed and 24 trapped by Russian missile
On July 10, a Russian missile hit eastern Ukraine and destroyed part of an apartment building, killing at least 15 people and making 24 buried beneath the debris.
“The search and rescue operation continues,” according to Pavlo Kyrylenko, the governor of Donetsk Oblast, “We have more proof of Russia’s crimes, that they shell residential areas of any community, whether it’s close to the front lines or not.”
Ukraine has accused Russia of launching a bunch of missiles to its cities in recent weeks, targeting civilians. Even though Russia denied the accusation, the army kept attacking population centers like Mariupol, Kharkiv and Severodonetsk.
South Africa: Mass shooting kills at least 15 at a bar
At least 15 people died from a shooting in the South African township of Soweto on June 10, and several people were injured.
According to the local authorities, the incident happened shortly after midnight when a group of men armed with rifles and 9-millimeter pistols entered the bar. They shooted at the customers, causing 12 people dead at the scene and 2 more were cleared dead after being sent to the hospital. Police said that the suspects are still on the run.
France will deport any foreigner who has committed a serious crime
Under current French regulations, anyone who arrived in France before the age of 13 cannot be expelled. Although, the French government is studying the possibility of facilitating the expulsion from the country of “any foreigner who has committed serious acts”, lifting the age restrictions in this regard, according to Gérald Darmanin, the Minister of the Interior.
The Euro against the Dollar
The European currency reaches its lowest level in 20 years against the dollar. The euro and the dollar, both currencies, have been less than a cent from reaching exactly the same value, when the euro hovered around $1,007 last Monday, down almost 15% since the start of the year. This has been caused by different serious reasons. While the fear in the markets of an economic recession in Europe increases, in a context of growing uncertainty about the continuity in the supply of Russian gas and high inflation.
Brad Pitt’s Bullet Train to premiere in August
August 3 marks the date for the release of all-new film Bullet Train. Directed by David Leitch, Brad Pitt stars as Ladybug, an unlucky assassin determined to do his job peacefully after one too many gigs gone off the rails. Fate, however, may have other plans, as Ladybug’s latest mission puts him on a collision course with lethal adversaries from around the globe—all with connected, yet conflicting, objectives—on the world’s fastest train.
The Bachelorette 19 premieres with two leads
ABC’s The Bachelorette promised to be another one of the “most shocking seasons ever” when they named two women as the lead(s) of the popular reality dating series. After making it to the final three of Season 26 of The Bachelor, Gabby Windey and Rachel Recchia went through a shocking double breakup.
The pair was named the first set of double bachelorettes at the season finale of their original show. Season 19 of the show will now follow their journey to find love. Navigating how to date 30+ men side by side, the season premiered on July 11. Both Gabby and Rachel will travel the world dating a pool of men, hoping to leave engaged and in love!
US President Biden visits Israel and Saudi Arabia
US President Joe Biden made his tenth visit to Israel this summer. Many believe that at the forefront of Biden’s agenda was to tackle negotiations regarding oil production in Saudi Arabia. Others sincerely hoped Biden will tackle the issue of Iran gaining more nuclear weapons.
Uvalde elementary school shooting footage shows law enforcement lacking action
Footage from one of the deadliest mass shootings that the US has endured this year was released. Original video clips from the Robb Elementary School mass shooting that left 21 dead are lightly edited to eliminate identity and sounds of children screaming. The footage was published by the Austin American-Statesmen newspaper just days before family victims were scheduled to watch the footage.
The video shows the gunman crashing a car before shooting at two individuals who responded to the accident. Continuing, footage shows the gunman entering the school carrying his weapon. After he enters the school, a child comes around the corner where he watches the gunman enter another classroom and open fire, to which he runs away in horror.
The most outraging element of the leaked footage reveals officers lack of response to the incident, though they arrived at the scene 77 minutes before shooting the gunman dead. The lack of action from the officers has enraged the community and nation on a widespread scale. Uvalde County Commissioner Ronald Garza stated, “They just didn’t act. They just didn’t move, […] I just don’t know what was going through those policemen’s minds that tragic day, but … there was just no action on their part.”
POLAND: The ashes of more than 7,000 victims of a Nazi extermination camp have been located
The Polish country lost 17% of its population during World War II. An excavation carried out at the site of the former Nazi extermination camp in Soldau, near the city of Dzialdowo, has uncovered 17 tons of ashes which, according to researchers, indicate that at least 7,000 people were cremated there.
The number of victims has been calculated according to the weight of the ashes, Karol Nawrocki, president of the Institute of Historical Memory, has expressed, since a human corpse corresponds to around two kilos of ashes.
Ivana Trump dies at 73
Ivana Trump dies at the age of 73, the first wife of Donald Trump and the former US president has announced it on his social network (Truth Social). The businesswoman was the mother of three of the former president’s children and she was crucial in building his real estate empire. They divorced in 1992, long before Donald Trump entered politics.
Ivana Trump passed away at her Manhattan apartment on July 14. This has been announced by Trump himself on the Truth Social network and who has not indicated the causes of her death.
Greenwood Park Mall shooting leaves four dead
A shooting broke out at the Greenwood Park Mall, in which a gunman killed three and injured two. The unidentified gunman was, too, shot dead by an armed 22-year-old man. Greenwood Police Chief Jim Ison released a statement about the catastrophic event, stating that, “This has shaken us to our core. This isn’t something that we have seen here in Greenwood before. It is absolutely horrendous and our thoughts and prayers are with those loved ones hurting tonight.”
UK undergoes record heatwave
As wildfires spread around Europe, the UK endured scorching, record-breaking temperatures. The UK’s previous leading temperature of 101.7 degrees in July 2019 was estimated to be exceeded on July 18 with predictions of 105 degrees. The heatwave sent the UK into a “Level 4” heat warning which can be defined as a “national emergency.”
FRANCE: Shooting on a terrace of a bar in Paris
One person dead and four injured in a shooting with a Kalashnikov against the terrace of a bar in Paris. The events occurred around 21:30 pm on Popincourt Street. According to the Europe 1 channel, a “Kalashnikov-type” long weapon has been found. “Two individuals got out of a vehicle and shot two individuals sitting on the terrace of a bar,” specified the Paris police headquarters. The main hypothesis of the investigation is a reckoning.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck marry in Las Vegas
Actor Ben Affleck and singer Jennifer Lopez got married this Saturday (July 16) in a small family ceremony in which the two children of the singer and her mother have been present. Jennifer Lopez has confirmed the news with a statement. “We did it. Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out that love is patient. 20-year patience.”
“Exactly what we wanted. Last night we flew to Las Vegas, queued for a license with four other couples, all making the same trip to the wedding capital of the world,” added the singer.
Japan: At Least 30 Endangered Green Sea Turtles Found With ‘Bleeding’ Neck Wounds
At least 30 endangered green sea turtles were found Thursday (July 19) with neck injuries near the remote island of Kumejima in southern Japan’s Okinawa prefecture. Police began investigating the case last Friday after the sea turtles were found at low tide. Some of these were barely breathing and others were bleeding. They had wounds around their necks caused by what appeared to be a blade.
US House passes bill that defends gay marriage rights
After the Supreme Court overturned the landmark decisioning in Roe v. Wade, Justice Clarence Thomas suggested that other milestone rulings needed to be looked at again, like Obergefell v. Hodges, the ruling that established gay marriage rights. In response to this, the US House of Representatives passed a bill that would ensure protection of equal marriage rights.
The bill passed by a vote of 267-157, and would ensure “federal protections for gay marriage and prohibits anyone from denying the validity of a marriage based on the race or sex of the couple.” Now, the bill will be reviewed and voted on by the Senate.
World Health Organization warns that global cases of COVID-19 have doubled in the last six weeks
Infections have reached their maximum peak in the first week of July. So the impact of omicron increased and created the seventh wave of the disease: From about three million weekly cases to six million currently, warned this Wednesday (July 2) the director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“An increase in cases means that there may be more hospitalizations and deaths in the coming weeks,” Tedros Adhanom mentioned at a press conference, noting that most of the current infections seem to belong to the omicron variant, “for now the most contagious known,” he added.
US President Biden tests positive for COVID-19
For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, US President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday July 21. It was reported that he took Paxlovid for his symptoms which included a cough, runny nose and overall exhaustion.
Flight cancellations and delays in Germany due to Lufthansa strike
As the airline warned on its website this Monday (July 25) there will be delays and cancellations of flights in Germany due to the Lufthansa strikes this Wednesday (July 27). The warning strike will start at 3.45am and end at 6am this Thursday (July 28), the German Verdi union said in a statement. The German union orders a 9.5% salary increase for Lufthansa ground staff, with a minimum of 350 euros per month for one year.
Police officers in Mexico City seize 1.5 tons of cocaine bound for the West Coast of the US.
Mexican police seized 1.5 tons of cocaine headed for the west coast of the United States, Omar Garcia Harfuch, Secretary of Citizen Security, published on Tuesday (July 26), describing it as “the largest seizure of cocaine in the capital.” During a press conference, Omar commented that the cocaine has a value of up to US$20 million and added that after reaching its final destination it would be worth “almost twice as much, in Los Angeles.”
Red Hot Chilli Peppers announce new album: “Return of the dream canteen”
Kicking off their North American tour, the band have announced October 14 as the release date for their second studio album this year. “Return of the dream canteen” will be the second album after the band released “Unlimited love“. It will also be the second release produced by Rick Rubin.
Selena Gomez chose a Versace design with which she looked like a real princess on her 30th birthday
The actress welcomed her 30th birthday last Friday, July 22. She held a party for her birthday surrounded by family and friends. For this important occasion, the protagonist of her outfit was the elegant dress that she wore from the luxury brand Versace.
The dress is made in a pale peach tone with short sleeves and a delicate tulle that covered Selena’s bodice and neckline. Added to this are the transparent details from the height of the thigh to the end that dragged a few centimeters. To give her dress more prominence, the actress added some hoop earrings and tied her hair up in a high ponytail. There is no doubt that Selena Gomez chose an elegant ‘look’ to welcome her 30 years.
The Latin Grammy 2022 will be held on November 17 in Las Vegas
Another Nicaraguan opposition leader sentenced to 10 years in prison
In Masaya (Nicaragua), an opposition leader from the department of Masaya, Yubrank Suazo, was sentenced this Wednesday (July 27) to 10 years in prison for a crime committed in spreading false news and national integrity, the Nicaraguan Center reported on its social platforms. of Human Rights (Cenidh).
Nicki Minaj advances the release of her new song “Freaky Girl“
The musical return of the rapper after her motherhood is being as successful as we remembered. Nicki was for years the artist who released the most video clips and songs in a calendar year and this year she has returned to her origins by introducing what will be the fifth song of 2022. Its release will be on August 12 under the title of “Freaky Girl.”
Beyoncé releases new album RENAISSANCE
REINAISSANCE was released as Beyoncé’s latest studio album on Friday July 29. The album platforms the reignited dance genre infused with elements of disco, house, and pop music. The icon released the album’s first single “BREAK MY SOUL” earlier in the year, taking the industry by storm.
internationally acclaimed, award-winning, Ghanian superstar Kelvyn Boy sets his sight on a 2022 world take-over as he prepares for his world tour kicking off this week in Germany with North American, Canadian, U.K., and other European dates to follow.
A fixture in the growing reception for music deriving from continental Africa, Kelyvn Boy, today, is most known as one of the first artists to bring the sound of Afrobeats to Ghana to make compelling music that connects listeners of all walks to all aspects of music and sounds from Africa with both continental and international standpoints. Kelyvn Boy’s latest release, “Down Flat“ is a tenement for this claim as a success for the single continues to amass international success in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Bermuda, Guinea-Bissau, and more. The single topped Apple Music’s Top 100 (Ghana) playlist at number one and ranked top ten on Billboard’s worldwide digital song sale charts, among many other achievements. The official music video stands currently at 5 + million views via YouTube since its release earlier this year. Watch HERE.
Within the last few years, the beloved artist has shot to superstardom—becoming one of Ghana’s most-streamed acts while spreading his wings to all corners of the globe. In 2020, Kelvyn Boy interviewed Billboardto discuss his aim to ‘Bring Ghana to the Grammys’ after releasing his second project “Black Star.” The sophomore effort received critical praise, gained a nomination at the Ghana Music Awards for ‘Best Album Of The Year,’ and earned Kelvyn the status of a rising Afrobeats superstar mastering unique artistry. With more music to come later this year and his worldwide tour, all roads lead to Kelvyn making his case as an African international superstar poised for esteemed global success.
Kelvin Brown known by his stage name Kelvyn Boy is an Afrobeats crusader and a household name in the Ghanaian Afro-Pop /Highlife space. The young musician and songwriter is a native of Assin Fosu in the Eastern region of Ghana. He has swiftly gained waves of interest in the local music industry and the world at large with his fresh sound and peculiar approach to the genre he chooses, which is setting him apart from his peers. Kelvyn Boy’s passion for music started at an early age when he used to sing with every opportunity that came his way. In 2008, he got his first musical opportunity to sing in churches, and from that time he got noticed for his melodious voice and thereafter was recommended by others. In 2010 he was performing at Karaoke nights and pubs. The passionate artiste has been influenced musically by Michael Jackson, Osibisa, Fela Kuti, and Bob Marley, who he says still inspire him because of their work ethic. He mastered the process of his music writing skills in 2012 and began adding his vocals on beats. He looks to soar higher in his music career just like his predecessors.
Kelvyn Boy has a unique musical style derived from his desire to sing and compose lyrics with everything happening around him. His soulful side, which he adopted from regularly singing in church, makes his sound very melodic. He, however, hopes to develop his music career around these various genres; Afro-beats, Afro-pop, Reggae, Dancehall, Highlife, or a fusion of ‘feel-good genres’ for music lovers. He plans to study and create his unique sound out of what he has learned from these amazing music genres. Generally, the theme of his songs is woven around romantic and uplifting themes.
With his soulful voice and electrifying performances, he has attracted a growing fanbase across the world having staged performances in Belgium at the ‘Bomboclat Festival’, an experience he highlights as one of the best in his entire career and life. He has also performed in Australia, Jamaica, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Sierra Leone, and other countries sharing the same stage with acts like Ziggy Marley, Chronixx, Busy Signal, Serani, Afro B, and other great and popular music personalities.
Kelvyn Boy is currently signed unto Blakk Arm Groupand has already released hit singles like “Mea” and “Momo”. He also released one of the most listened to EPs in Ghana titled “TIME” in June 2019 and also his “BLACK STAR” Album released in November 2020 was nominated at the Ghana Music Awards for Best Album Of The Year. He has been featured and also featured other artists on numerous songs, he has collaborated with artists like Mr. Vegas, Sarkodie, Manifest, Kwesi Arthur, Medikal, Kojo Funds, Kidi, and some new artists both in Ghana and other countries.
A legend-in-the-making Kelvyn boy says: “Making decisions based on emotions make bad career decisions, so instead, I put it in my music. I am working with my band to create more exciting live band shows, and I will continue to record great musical pieces. I’m always creating new and distinct music materials”
Multi-faceted artist and producer Mallrat announces her 2022 World Tour to take her brand new, critically acclaimed debut record, Butterfly Blue on the road, with headline shows and festivals across Europe, the UK, North America and Australia. The highly anticipated album was released on May 13th to praise from NPR, Teen Vogue, NME, PAPER, MTV and more, and marks a triumphant debut from Mallrat, solidifying her reputation as a master of clever, timeless pop.
Hot off the heels of an opening stint for Conan Gray in the UK and Europe, the new tour will see Mallrat playing new tracks from the album such as “To You,” which comes fresh off the back of the year’s most unexpected collaboration, “Surprise Me (feat. Azealia Banks),” and its much loved predecessors “Your Love,” “Teeth” and “Rockstar.”
Sweeping across vast, airy production, Butterfly Blue is often surprising, with samples and sounds tucked under the surface: chopped-up Gangsta Pat bars, a flipped recording of a children’s choir performing Lisztomania, and more. Distorted effects were recorded from discarded children’s toys – a sonic gift from producer Clams Casino. Layered like an instrument all their own, her signature breathy vocals are more assured than ever.
Butterfly Blue is available at all digital retailers HERE.
About Mallrat
Prized producer, songwriter, and collaborator Mallrat – aka Grace Shaw – is a master of clever, timeless pop. Her trio of early EPs – Uninvited (2016), In The Sky (2018), Driving Music (2019) – are documents of an artist on the rise. Mallrat has garnered attention from the NY Times, NYLON, NPR, and more. PAPER named her in their “100 Women Revolutionizing Pop,” after making it onto the “Best of” lists by The Fader, Billboard, NOISEY, NME, Triple J, and Teen Vogue. At home in Australia, she continues to place Top 5 on Triple J charts. In the states, she made her late-night TV performance debut on the Late Late Show With James Corden, while in the UK, winning “Best Australian Solo Act” at the NME Awards. She has toured both at home and internationally, including European and North American support for Maggie Rogers, Post Malone, and King Princess, selling out headline shows from London to New York, and collecting fans in the likes of Mark Ronson and Azealia Banks along the way.
Japan’s No.1 YouTube omnibus music channel THE FIRST TAKE has announced the overseas streaming of the conceptual concert, INSIDE THE FIRST TAKE on Stagecrowd.
Performers will include ALI, who sang “LOST IN PARADISE feat. AKLO” (the ending theme of 1st season of the TV anime Jujutsu Kaisen), yama, who sang “Oz.” (the ending theme of the 1st season of the TV anime “Ranking of Kings”), and many others.
The archived footage of the conceptual concert, “INSIDE THE FIRST TAKE,” organised by the YouTube channel “THE FIRST TAKE,” will be streamed overseas on Stagecrowd.
“THE FIRST TAKE” is a YouTube channel from Japan that films and releases videos featuring artist performances shot in a single take. The channel has over 6 million subscribers — the most out of all omnibus music channels in Japan.
Performances are filmed in a pure white space with the artist in front of a single mic. The production is simple and stripped down, and the resulting footage highlights the artist’s pure talent.
In this conceptual concert, fans can witness the single-take filming style of “THE FIRST TAKE.” In addition, before an artist’s performance, an exclusive documentary about the track that will be performed will also be shown with English subtitle, deepening your understanding of the song.
Featured performers include popular artists who made global hits such as ALI, who sang “LOST IN PARADISE feat. AKLO” (the ending theme of 1st season of the TV anime “Jujutsu Kaisen”), yama, who sang “Oz.” (the ending theme of the 1st season of the TV anime “Ranking of Kings”), ReoNa, who sang “ANIMA” (the opening theme of the TV anime “Sword Art Online Alicization War of Underworld”), and many others.
It’s the first ever live performance from THE FIRST TAKE, gathering artists that have been trending
INSIDE THE FIRST TAKE
■ What is “THE FIRST TAKE”?
“THE FIRST TAKE” is a YouTube channel that captures artists’ amazing vocal performances in a single take on stunning 4K quality.
The channel was established on 15th November 2019, and in less than a year reached 2 million subscribers in September 2020. The next year the number increased by 3 million, bringing the total number of subscribers to 5 million.
Amongst all Japanese music YouTube channels (outside of official artist accounts), “THE FIRST TAKE” was the fastest channel to reach 5 million and 6 million subscribers and is the most subscribed channel for the Japanese omnibus genre.
Artists who have appeared on “THE FIRST TAKE” include LiSA, who sang the global hit Gurenge, the first opening theme of the TV anime “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba,” and TK from Ling tosite Sigure, who sang “unravel”, the first opening theme of the TV anime “Tokyo Ghoul.”
In addition, many artists from outside Japan have also appeared, such as Stray Kids, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, Jun. K (from 2PM), and Pentatonix (who appeared in a collaboration song with Little Glee Monster).
The channel is popular with the international audience, with about 30% of the subscribers being overseas users from countries and regions such as Taiwan, Indonesia, the United States, and the Philippines.
■ Stream Information
Thursday, 16 June 2022 ALI / Creepy Nuts / Da-iCE / yama
Saturday, 18 June 2022 Soushi Sakiyama / HENTAI SHINSHI CLUB / miwa / ReoNa
Japan / Taiwan / Hong Kong / Macau / Thailand / Malaysia / Singapore/ Brazil / Peru / Australia / New ZealandUK / Germany / France / Italy / SpainUS / Canada / Mexico
* Archive will be available for viewing approximately 1 hour after the end of the stream.
* After purchasing the ticket, cancellations, changes, and refunds are not possible for reasons other than the postponement or cancellation of the performance.
* Due to issues with the internet infrastructure or broadcast system, video and audio may be interrupted, and the performance may be temporarily suspended or terminated halfway.
* This performance is a paid, ticketed live stream. All rights are owned by the organizer. Screen recording, filming, and recording with cameras, smartphones, etc. are all prohibited.
The high-engery, Australian music duo Peking Duk start off 2022 with a bang, debuting their hot new single ‘Honest’ featuring the one and only Slayyyter.
Stream ‘Honest’ (feat. Slayyyter) HERE and catch the visualizer HERE.
The song was produced and written with the Australian likes of KLP. Illustrated as a pulsing dance hit sure to get you up out of your seat, the duo had a few words to say regarding the release of this hit. Peking Duk stated, “This song came together as a result of an impromptu jam we had after running 10ks and almost dying in the process. Heading straight into the studio we realized there was some fuego in the ideas we were recording and there was only one person to call to take it to the next level – KLP. We wrote the lyrics alongside the theme that the music created – A sweaty journey through thunder, mountaintops, marching to the drums and chanting as we follow each other. Slayyyter was down to jump on board and add her vocals to the mix and we couldn’t be more stoked with the magic that we now get to share with the world. Play it loud and scream it proud.”
The notarized duo has accumulated over 445 million streams internationally around a variety of streaming platforms combined with 27 million video views! There most noteworthy breakout hits include the 5 x platinum ‘Stranger,’ 4 x platinum ‘Fire’ and 3 x platinum ‘High.’
