Posts tagged with "Brooklyn"

GIGI – “FIGURINES”

GIGI’S NEW SINGLE, “FIGURINES,” IS OUT TODAY – LISTEN HERE

BROOKLYN BASED SINGER-SONGWRITER WRAPS UP TOUR WITH NOAH CYRUS AT THE WILTERN IN LOS ANGELES ON NOVEMBER 4

Breakout artist gigi gives a tour de force vocal performance on her new single, ”Figurines,” released today via Mogul Vision/Interscope Records. On the dreamy, self-penned track, which she recorded in Nashville, gigi examines mortality and the process of forging one’s own path. Mike Zara and Aidan Hobbs produced and play on “Figurines,” combining haunting keyboards with plaintive guitar and adding accordion and saxophone as the song builds to an emotional close. Listen to “Figurines” HERE. View the visualizer HERE.

“’Figurines’ is about the circle of life, fear of death, and the lengths people go to immortalize themselves. There are many areas of my life i can point in my early development that have influenced this sort of existential thorn i have. Your brain is a hard drive and you can never erase anything from it. Your experiences are with you always but you can work past them. Writing about my fears of mortality help me come to terms with it myself,” said gigi.

Born in New Jersey, raised in Florida and now based in Brooklyn, gigi is currently on her first national tour, providing direct support on Noah Cyrus’ North American run. The Hardest Part Tour, which stops at The Truman in Kansas City tonight, concludes on November 4 at The Wiltern in Los Angeles. While many of the remaining shows are sold out, limited tickets are available HERE for some dates. See below for itinerary.

Check out this snippet of gigi performing “Sometimes (Backwood)” on the tour. After sharing the track on TikTok in 2021, she released the single independently. It racked up 18 million streams in the first six months and combined global streams now surpass 72 million. Hailing gigi as “one of Gen Z’s breakout artists,” Medium tracked the song’s organic growth in this feature, and said, “[‘Sometimes (Backwood)’] is a torrent of raw emotion…Let’s see what gigi does next.”

“Figurines” is the latest in a remarkable string of follow-up singles from gigi that include “The Man,” “When She Smiles” and “Glue.” Depicting the life of a queer twenty-something with raw honesty and all-enveloping beauty, the songs showcase her blunt yet tender poetry amid windswept landscapes of acoustic guitars, swooping strings and delicate reverb.

gigi on tour

All dates supporting Noah Cyrus

10/28 Kansas City, MO The Truman

10/29 Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theatre SOLD OUT

10/31 Denver, CO Summit Music Hall

11/1 Salt Lake City, UT The Grand at The Complex SOLD OUT

11/3 San Francisco, CA August Hall SOLD OUT

11/4 Los Angeles, CA The Wiltern

gigi – “Figurines” eSingle

Retail: https://gigi.lnk.to/figurines

Amazon Unlimited: https://gigi.lnk.to/figurines/amazonmusic

Apple Music: https://gigi.lnk.to/figurines/applemusic

Audiomack: https://gigi.lnk.to/figurines/audiomack

Deezer: https://gigi.lnk.to/figurines/deezer

iTunes: https://gigi.lnk.to/figurines/itunes

Pandora: https://gigi.lnk.to/figurines/pandora

Soundcloud: https://gigi.lnk.to/figurines/soundcloud

Spotify: https://gigi.lnk.to/figurines/spotify

Tidal: https://gigi.lnk.to/figurines/tidal

YouTube Music: https://gigi.lnk.to/figurines/youtubemusic

YouTube: https://gigi.lnk.to/figurines/youtube

Instagram // geeguscrust

TikTok // geeguscrust

YouTube

FASHION WEEK BROOKLYN

Fashion Week Brooklyn powered by Partnerships, Sponsors, and Community Supporters

BK|Style Foundation (BK|SF) is the 501c3 non-profit organization behind Fashion Week Brooklyn (FWBK). The theme for 2022 Season 2, set for October 9th-16th, is Metaverse of Fashion. The bi-annual exhibition launched in 2006 and is made possible by community initiatives, partnerships, sponsorships, and fundraising efforts.

Fashion Week Brooklyn is a one-of-a-kind fashion event showcasing the talent of aspiring and established designers from all over the world. This unique opportunity allows creators to gain exposure to their collections and to connect with buyers, media, and other industry professionals. The Metaverse of Fashion is right at home in Brooklyn, a chic, cool, and cutting-edge borough.

With a proud history of art, entrepreneurship, and innovation, Brooklyn is the perfect place to amplify the work of individuals and businesses in a collaborative setting. This year, Brooklyn Fashion Week is taking things to the next level by incorporating the metaverse into its event. Attendees can explore the collections and experience shows in a completely new way. The fashion industry is constantly evolving, and the virtual world allows people to interact with each other in a more immersive environment. The BK|Style Foundation provides a professional forum for creatives to generate buzz and forge meaningful relationships.

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

COPE NYC | ACUMEN CAPITAL PARTNERS | MATERIALS FOR THE ARTS

SUPPORTING PARTNERS

DONATING SPONSORS

MEDIA PARTNERS

SPECIAL THANKS

BEAUTIFUL STRANGER | DENIM DAY NYC | FASHIONABLYIN

To view the entire schedule, click here:

Playbook MG is coordinating press on behalf of BK|Style Foundation and Fashion Week Brooklyn (FWBK). General inquiries are welcome via email media@fashionweekbrooklyn.com, for press inquiries please get in touch with the media liaison at Playbook MG Sarah Freiseis directly.

Connect w/ Fashion Week Brooklyn:

IG:@fashionweekbrooklyn | TW:@FashionWeekBK | FB:@fashionweekbrooklyn

Paloma Ford at NYFW

Rising R&B superstar Paloma Ford kicked off New York Fashion Week 2022 with a unique, one-night-only music showcase on September 7 at National Sawdust in Brooklyn, New York, in partnership with UnitedMasters and Crown Royal Apple via their renowned ‘Breakout Sessions’ series. The R&B maven curated a melody of hits from her previous bodies of work, Nearly Civilized (2016), X Tapes (2020), and teased a preview of new music she is slated to release for her next body of work X Tapes II.

“It’s always a magical moment when you perform and see people singing with you, feeling the same emotions. Nothing compares to it. That’s what we do this for; human connection.”
– Paloma Ford

The musical arrangement for the night, supported by background vocalist Dazmin Laster and guitarist Dennis Lorenzo, started with a refreshing performance of her breakout hit “Do It Again” as she led into tracks from X Tapes, including fan-favorite “Heartbreak on the Westside.” Without surprise, Paloma also performed her latest sizzling hit, “Bentley Truck,” which arrived a few short months ago and received recognition on Apple Music playlist(s) ‘New in R&B,’ ‘Brown Sugar’; Amazon Music’s ‘Brand New Music,’ Fresh R&B,’ Breakthrough R&B’ playlists + more. The momentous set was concluded with a preview of a new track, rumored to appear on X Tapes II, “Where Did You Go.”

On the fashion sector, Paloma was styled in a full all-white look from emerging designer TDionne to start off the night. Shortly after, Paloma made her way to Diesel styled in a complete look of their latest collection as she commenced NYFW. While in town Paloma is set to support an array of presentations, including Tia Adeola, No Sesso, Kim Shui, PUMA and more. The relationship with Tia Adeola has gone on to be a special relationship for Paloma that started when she walked as a model for Tia’s debut show in 2019. Since then, Paloma has become a natural muse for the brand, starring in Tia’s fashion film ‘Black Is Beautiful, which premiered via Vogue in 2020 and more.

Paloma is set to unveil a few more surprises very shortly as she sets the stage for new music and more!

Leica × BAPE

Leica, “A BATHING APE” and Stash have collaborated on a limited-edition camera, merging industry-leading technology with a chic, urban sensibility. The Leica D-Lux 7 “A BATHING APE®︎ X STASH” consists of a black-finish compact camera sold exclusively through Leica, and a silver-finish version available exclusively through pioneering streetwear brand, A BATHING APE®︎. Both special editions feature the signature ABC CAMO look of BAPE® covering the camera body, the brand’s APE HEAD insignia, as well as the distinctive wild style tag of American graffiti artist, STASH. The result is a camera that integrates the power of street photography with icons of streetwear and street art.

The streetwear label BAPE® (A BATHING APE®︎) encapsulates the youthful spirit of an entire generation, bringing Tokyo’s urban street style to the world with its contemporary designs. From the Asian metropolis, we turn our attention to New York, where pioneering street-art legend STASH (aka Josh Franklin) paved the way for a new genre of graffiti by moving his creations from the anonymity of subway tunnels into the public eye. Finally, we turn to Wetzlar: the German city that has become almost synonymous with the art of optical engineering and camera design. This special-edition camera combines the creative energies of Tokyo and New York. Photography has always been used to document both street art and street fashion – now the Leica D-Lux 7 “A BATHING APE®︎ X STASH” is a tangible manifestation of this connective link.

“When I started doing graffiti in the early 1980s, the term ‘street art’ didn’t exist. It was only later, when we emerged from the tunnels and train stations, that we became much more visible. Documenting my art through photography has always been part of my creativity. With the advent of digital cameras, I got my first Leica,” STASH recalls, who recognizes many parallels between the three art forms. “They are visual, based on color, form and expressive freedom. I think they are strongly youth-driven, and there is so much creativity between them that one feeds into the other to help complete the story.”

When designing the limited special edition of the Leica D-Lux 7, the Brooklyn-based artist incorporated both the famously graphic-heavy style of the BAPE® label, and his own distinctive visual approach.

The Leica D-Lux 7 “A BATHING APE®︎ X STASH” offers the same technical specifications as the serial production model, including a Micro Four Thirds sensor, fast 24–75mm (35mm camera equivalent) zoom lens with optical image stabilization, and an aperture range of f/1.7–2.8 to deliver outstanding images, anytime, anyplace. For the effective resolution of 17 megapixels, the lens utilizes a central portion of the sensor (whose total resolution is over 21 million pixels), resulting in an even higher image quality and a sensor that delivers 4K 30fps and full-HD 60fps videos. The black-finish Leica D-Lux 7 “A BATHING APE®︎ X STASH” retails for $1,895, and comes with an additional carrying strap, a specially designed camera pouch, and an auto lens cap that opens and closes as the lens retracts and extends.

To mark the launch of the limited-edition Leica D-Lux 7, a selection of photographs by STASH will be presented in a special exhibition at Leica Store Los Angeles.

A BATHING APE®︎

Situated in the heart of Tokyo, one of the leading fashion hubs of the world, Nowhere Co., Ltd. strives to introduce Japanese fashion culture to the world. Since the brand’s establishment in 1993, it has remained as a symbol of street fashion for more than 28 years. Thus far, it has produced iconic design items, original patterns, and characters such as “APE HEAD”, “BAPE® CAMO”, “BAPE STA™”, “SHARK HOODIE” and “BABY MILO®” etc. It has now expanded into Mens, Ladies and Kids line and is carried throughout stores in Japan, US, UK, France, China and various Asian countries. It has also created successful collaborations with established international brands and reputable artists. These collaborations are recognized as being genreless and flexible, not limited to fashion and apparel categories only.

STASH

One of the pioneers of New York’s graffiti scene, STASH (Josh Franklin) is firmly established as an innovator and influencer in the world of urban design. His vision of integrating graphic graffiti elements and fonts into commercial product designs captured the attention of a broad audience and helped graffiti culture rise from the shadows of subway tunnels into the light of public acceptance. His hidden (‘stashed away’) messages and iconic signature have become a brand in their own right, immortalized in high-profile collaborations with major brands in the streetwear cosmos. In his search for new forms of expression, the photography enthusiast has found a perfect match in Leica: the collaboration is another milestone for the street artist to manifest his concept of capturing the fleeting moment.

Leica Camera – A Partner for Photography
Leica Camera AG is an international, premium manufacturer of cameras and sports optics. The legendary reputation of the Leica brand is based on a long tradition of excellent quality, German craftsmanship and German industrial design, combined with innovative technologies. An integral part of the brand’s culture is the diversity of activities the company undertakes for the advancement of photography. In addition to the Leica
Galleries and Leica Akademies spread around the world, there are the Leica Hall of Fame Award and, in particular, the Leica Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA), which is considered one of the most innovative sponsorship awards existing today. Furthermore, Leica Camera AG, with its headquarters in Wetzlar, Hesse, and a second production site in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal, has a worldwide network of its own national organizations and Leica Retail Stores.

August Top Stories

2022 has been a significant year for the history of planet Earth. Making it past the halfway point of the year, 360 reviews the leading stories for the month of August.

Brittney Griner receives nine-year sentence in Russia

United States’ WNBA player Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine years of prison on Thursday August 4 in Russia. Griner pled guilty to cannabis possession charges earlier in the year after mistakenly breaking Russian law. When travelling to Russia in February of the year, Griner had vape cartridges that carried less than one gram of cannabis oil in them.

In the courtroom before hearing her sentence, Briner stated, “I want the court to understand that this was an honest mistake that I made while rushing, under stress, trying to recover from COVID and just trying to get back to my team.”

Moments after Griner was sentenced, the White House released a statement, reportedly in the name of US President Joe Biden. The statement read, “Today, American citizen Brittney Griner received a prison sentence that is one more reminder of what the world already knew: Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittney, […] It’s unacceptable, and I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates.”

Monkeypox outbreak continues to swarm the US

The viral disease known as monkeypox was recognized as a national health emergency in the US. After the first case was contracted around May of 2022, the virus has only continued to spread. Over 6,600 probable or confirmed cases have been reported in the states, with only Montana and Wyoming not having any reported cases.

Alex Jones defamation trial begins

Infowars conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ defamation trial commenced after years of claiming that the 2012 mass elementary school shooting at Sandy Hook was not real.

In 2018, 10 families of victims from the Sandy Hook shooting sued Jones, resulting in two suits in Texas and one in Connecticut. Since then, in 2019, Jones admitted that the shooting took place, but he continued to communicate false claims surrounding the event.

With the trial taking off in the beginning of August 2022, Jones has already lost the three cases by default judgement. The happenings inside of the courtroom have gained widespread attention, as videos of a victims’ family confronting Jones’ years of lies went viral online.

Jones attorney, also, accidentally sent the prosecution copies of Jones’ phone records that included his texts and emails – important documents that Jones has refused to hand over for years, resulting in his losses in three cases.

FLORIDA: Police arrest a woman for committing “sexual acts” with her dog for eight years while her ex-partner recorded it

As stated by the Pinellas County Sheriff, the 36-year-old woman “voluntarily participated in sexual activities with her dog”. Christina Calello, and her ex-boyfriend, Geoffrey Springer, 39, have been arrested in Florida. The woman is accused of having sex with her dog for eight years while Geoffrey recorded it, videos that were later stored on a hard drive. He will also face legal charges for having recorded the acts of his ex-partner and having “saved them on a flash drive”.

Four injured in lightning strike near White House

Four people have been seriously injured after being struck by lightning that struck this Thursday (August 4) near the White House, the residence of the president of the United States in Washington. At the press conference, the spokesman for the fire department of the US capital, Vito Maggiolo, stated that two adult men and two women received medical attention and were taken to hospital after receiving the “apparent impact” of lightning.

A man shoots a McDonald’s worker in New York for serving him cold fries, New York City

An employee of a McDonald’s in New York is in serious condition in the hospital after being shot during an altercation with a customer and his mother after an argument because the fries were cold, reported this Wednesday (August 3) the Police and the New York Post newspaper.

In a city where gunshots are frequent, this new episode took place on Monday night (August 1) in Brooklyn. Police confirmed to AFP that a 20-year-old man is charged and detained with “possession of firearms” and “attempted homicide.”

Balenciaga are now selling ‘the worlds most expensive trash bag’ for $1,790

The luxury brand has unveiled a brand new it-bag for Winter 2022 – dubbed ‘the worlds most expensive trash bag’ by the fashion house itself. The Balenciaga Trash Pouch retails for $1,790 and can be bought in Balenciaga’s boutiques and online now.

Khloe Kardashian & Tristan Thompson have welcomed their baby boy

The couple have become parents for the second time. The athlete and the celebrity announced last July that they were expecting their second child together, this time through a surrogate mother. “We would like to ask for kindness and privacy so that Khloé can focus on her family,” says the statement from the television businesswoman.

‘JOKER 2’ will officially be released in theaters on October 4, 2024

‘Joker 2′: Folie à Deux’ finally has a release date. The film starring Batman’s archenemy will be released in theaters on October 4, 2024. The film will be filming in December, with Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga in talks as Joker and Harley Quinn.

Huge Breakthrough as CANCER ‘disappears’ for all patients in drug trial

A new drug being tested for colorectal cancer has left doctors stunned after it returned 100% success rate in clinical trials. Dostarlimab (a drug with molecules made in a laboratory) works by exposing cancer cells, allowing the immune system to identify and destroy them. During those six months, patients received a dose of the drug every three weeks. Each of them cost about $11,000.

Conor Mcgregor is making his acting debut in Jake Gyllenhaal’s new movie

UFC star is headed to the big screen. Conor, who last fought in 2021, will star alongside actor Jake Gyllenhaal in Amazon Prime’s remake of the 1989 action/suspense movie “Road House.” “Conor McGregor is very excited to expand his storied career to Hollywood and join with Jake Gyllenhaal in this reimagining of ‘Road House,’ a beloved classic,” McGregor’s spokesperson Karen J. Kessler said.

Olivia Newton-John dies at the age of 73

Olivia Newton-John has passed away this Monday (August 8) at the age of 73. The Australian actress and singer was diagnosed with cancer more than 30 years ago and it was her husband, John Easterling, who was in charge of communicating the actress’s death to the world: “Olivia Newton-John passed away at her home in Southern California, surrounded by family and friends. We ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”

F.B.I. Searches Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Residence in Florida

FBI searches Trump’s Florida residence for official documents. “These are dark times for our nation, as my beautiful home at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach is now being besieged, raided and occupied by a large group of FBI agents,” the Republican wrote in a statement. Trump expresses that “something like this has never happened to a president of the United States before” and that’s right: there is no precedent for a search of the house of a former president in US history.

Spain: Drug jabs in nightclubs

The cases of alleged chemical submission by jabs do not stop increasing. The common element in all the cases was the jab and that, in general, the victims are young girls. Some people perceive the jab at the moment of receiving it, while others see it more late or even the next morning. Some report symptoms include nausea, arm pain and confusion.

New virus of animal origin detected in China, 35 cases in humans

Henipavirus, that’s what the new virus of animal origin detected in China is named. The cases, none of them serious, were found in Henan and Shandong, according to the ‘Global Times‘ newspaper, which cites an article published by Chinese and Singaporean scientists in the ‘New England Journal of Medicine‘, one of the most recognized in the world.

United States expands availability of monkeypox vaccine manufacturing

The United States declared this August 4 a health emergency throughout the country due to monkeypox. The first states to declare a monkeypox health emergency were California and New York. Now the health agency, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has received emergency use authorizations for the monkeypox vaccines.

“Last week, I declared monkeypox a public health emergency to unlock additional tools that will help us contain and end this outbreak and to signal to Americans that we are taking our response to the next level,” Xavier Becerra (US Secretary of Health) said in a statement from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Africa: William Ruto wins the elections in Kenya

The Electoral Commission of Kenya has announced the winner of the elections to William Ruto, the current vice president, with 50.49% of the vote over candidate Raila Odinga, who received 48.85%. “I am going to work with all the political leaders,” in a “transparent, open, and democratic” country, assured William Ruto upon learning of his victory.

Australia: Man arrested after shooting at Canberra airport

A man was arrested as the alleged perpetrator of several shots at the main terminal of the Canberra airport (Australia’s capital), with no injuries reported, Australian police said. In pictures released on social media platforms, a police officer could be seen reducing a man to the floor inside the terminal, while the airport alarms sounded. From outside it was possible to observe the bullet impacts on the front window of the airport, according to images published by ABC public television.

US first lady Jill Biden tests positive for coronavirus

Jill Biden has tested positive for coronavirus and is suffering from mild symptoms, her spokeswoman reported on Monday (August 15), confirming that she will remain isolated for at least five days. The American first lady will remain isolated in her house in South Carolina and Joe Biden will return to the white house alone to continue with his agenda.

Life sentence for Shafee El Sheikh, the leader of the Islamic State commando who executed several journalists

The terrorist El Shafee el-Sheikh, leader of the ‘Beatles’, a jihadist group of the self-styled Islamic State and known for its cruelty and specialty in the torture, capture and execution of Western hostages, has been sentenced this Friday (August 19) to prison life by a United States court.

WHO confirms new Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

The World Health Organization has confirmed a new outbreak of Ebola in the North Kivu region, in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, after the worst forecasts were found for a case classified as suspicious. There is a lot of concern and tension in the African country due to these data. The head of the WHO, Matshidiso Moeti, sees this type of resurgence “worrying and alarming”, which is “appearing more and more frequently”.

NIA SULTANA – CRISTAL

Brooklyn singer/songwriter, Nia Sultana, releases the cinematic video for her new single “Cristal” featuring Che Ecru. Watch it HERE via Interscope Records. Filmed with a grainy, vintage look and rich golden-hour colors, the visual reflects the track’s charming come-up story in delightful detail. “Cristal” is available now at all digital retainers.

These imagistic details are captured more or less literally in the video, directed by James Bahman, which begins with the singer/songwriter crossing paths with a handsome stranger at a convenience store. They share lingering looks before continuing on their separate ways. The spark, however, is undeniable.

The new video arrives after “Proven,” a love-on-the-rocks track featuring Rick Ross, her joyous day-breaker “In the Morning,” and the mellow after-hours anthem “Ambiance.” Sultana first turned the heads of alternative-R&B fans with 2019’s “Coconut Water,” a relaxing jam that earned praise from outlets like NPR and was featured on the much-loved Escape Tracks platform on YouTube.

The proud Brooklynite’s recent music expertly captures the many highs and lows young women face, offering some truth with every note. In the music video for “Cristal,” Sultana considers how far she’s come — and plots the next chapter in her journey to the top.

SG LEWIS’ 2022 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR

Following the release of his new double A-Side single, ‘Missing You’ / ‘Something About Your Love’, London-based singer-songwriter, producer and DJ, SG Lewis, has announced a new run of North American Tour dates. The 20-date tour will kick off October 6 in Boston, making stops in Brooklyn, Washington DC, Toronto, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Seattle and more, before concluding in Portland, OR on November 12.

Speaking about getting back out on the road, SG Lewis reveals, “After years of tentative touring and cautious planning, I’m unbelievably excited to finally announce my first full US tour since 2019. I’m buzzing to be playing in some cities I’ve wanted to visit for so long, and so excited to bring you a completely new live show.“

The local presale begins tomorrow, Wednesday July 13th at 10 AM, through Thursday July 14th at 10 PM local time, followed by an exclusive Spotify Presale on Thursday, 10 AM – 10 PM local time. Tickets go on sale to the general public starting Friday, July 15th at 10 AM local time. For a full list of upcoming live dates and to purchase tickets, please visit www.sglewismusic.com.

These headlining dates will follow his previously announced live shows this summer, including his return to the beloved Palm Springs pool party festival Splash House on Saturday, August 13, and festival performances at Life Is Beautiful Festival in Las Vegas (TICKETS) on Friday, September 16 and the Portola Festival in San Francisco (TICKETS) on Sunday September 25.

Last week, SG Lewis returned with two brand new singles: the nocturnal dancefloor-filler ‘Missing You‘ and the italo-influenced anthem ‘Something About Your Love.’ Right out of the gate, ‘Missing You,’ which The FADER hailed as an “80s synth-rave carried on the back of a snappy Linn drum-sprinkled beat that would make Starboy-era The Weeknd salivate,” reaches for dancefloor glory with its shimmering synths and neon bass line, nodding to eighties new wave with a chantable chorus, “I’m not missing you like I’m supposed to.” On the flip side, ‘Something About Your Love‘ fuses a funk-inflected bass line and tambourine with a luminous refrain. The release was celebrated by Dancing Astronaut, who said “Altogether, Missing You / Something About Your Love affirms SG Lewis‘ status as a musical auteur with a knack for merging the sounds of earlier decades with today’s sonics in an ever novel, dance floor-facing fashion.” Both tracks are available to buy/stream as a double A-side single today via Astralwerks.

Listen to ‘Missing You / Something About Your Love’ HERE.

Ushering in a brand-new chapter, the 70s and 80s have provided a rich seam of inspiration for contemporary artists like SG Lewis (real name Sam Lewis) and nowhere is this more potent than today’s releases. ‘Missing You‘ illuminates Lewis‘ unmatched ability to take underground club music somewhere fresh and towards a new generation and reaches for dancefloor glory with its shimmering synths and neon bass line, nodding to eighties new wave in timeless pop ecstasy. On the other end of the spectrum, the Daft Punk inspired ‘Something About Your Love‘ showcases 70s-era drums, a funk-inflected bass hook, disco-styled groove, and a luminous refrain. Both tracks are classic but deeply contemporary cuts with one suited to the adrenaline rush of your wildest night out, and the other to the blissful ride home at sunrise. This duality is a theme that permeates SG Lewis‘ new era.

Speaking about ‘Missing You,‘ SG Lewis reveals, “Conceptually, it felt like the perfect introduction. It’s a story about temptation and dwindling fear. Your eyes are wandering.” On ‘Something About Your Love,’ SG adds “It’s no secret I’m a massive Daft Punk fan. It’s the closest thing I’ve ever made to a tribute to them. I was listening to Discovery a lot, and there’s a specific technique to it. I chopped up the sample of these seventies keys and drums. It came together easily. Lyrically, It’s a pure confession of admiration for someone. It’s the perfect contrast to ‘Missing You’.“

The new tracks follow on from Sam’s debut record times, released during lockdown last year, which found one of modern pop’s secret weapons stepping out front and center, taking listeners on a voyage through soaring electronic dance and kaleidoscopic future disco with a blockbuster collection of guests. Features included Robyn and Channel Tres on ‘Impact‘ (“a house track so physical your feet may begin to move involuntarily,” according to NPR), Nile Rodgers on ‘One More‘ and Lucky Daye on fan favorite ‘Feed The Fire.’ The album received widespread critical acclaim from the likes of Pitchfork (who hailed it as “a pristine album”), NPR, Billboard, NME, GQ and much more, with LP highlight track ‘Chemicals‘ amassing over 55 million Spotify streams and counting, catapulting SG Lewis‘ total stream count to over 1.4 billion.

SG Lewis has cemented his status as one music’s most sought-after producers and has collaborated with the likes of Elton John, Dua Lipa, Clairo, Tove Lo, Khalid, Aluna, Victoria Monet, Raye, Ray BLK, The Neptunes/N.E.R.D’s Chad Hugo, Gerd Janson, Conducta + many more. Louis Vuitton also launched their pre-Fall campaign with Soulwax’s remix of ‘Impact’ earlier this month and Sam is well regarded in fashion circles, attending, and performing an array of parties across his illustrious career. Behind the scenes, he also produced Dave’s seminal breakout track 100’M’s’ and co-wrote ‘Hallucinate‘ for Dua Lipa‘s record-smashing number one album, Future Nostalgia. Sam has sold out headline shows across the US, Asia, Australia, and Europe as well as multiple festival appearances including prime-time slots at Coachella and Glastonbury – his raucous live shows not only make him one of London’s hottest talents, but also a formidable artist capable of making a splash on both sides of the Atlantic and beyond.

HIVE NIGHT

HIVE hosted a pride and NFT NYC party at Mika in Bushwick–reminscent of a night out at ‘Bushlicks’–the fictional queer bar featured in the emerging NFT streaming series, HIVEMIND. It magically mirrored the venue’s live performances, and included a crypto 101 workshop alongside a fashion show following the trailer premiere.

In succession, HIVE presented a fashion show and NFT drop showcased celebrity wardrobe stylist and Streamy-nominated costume designer, Marc Littlejohn’s gender neutral line @thismansbrand. As a prominent member of the LGBTQ community, he continues to push avant-garde editorials to the forefront with 360 MAGAZINE. Additionally, VirtualFashion.io served as a sponsor for this affair.

At the soiree, attendees were able to collect a free NFT token to watch the trailer for HIVEMIND , a sci-fi LGBTQIA series created by Bee Davies—a model, actor, writer and producer.

Further, audience members will have the opportunity to fund production while engaging at various activations. Lastly, Magenta and Three Aries slayed with a fierce drag and vogue session, culminating the evening with a kiki.

NBA Draft – Benn Mathurin

Tonight, all eyes are on the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York for the 2022 NBA Draft.

In case you are working on any NBA Draft red carpet or general fashion round-ups, I wanted to share a few images of top draft pick, Benn Mathurin, from the NBA Draft red carpet for potential inclusion.

Benn on his partnership with AXE:

“My teammates depend on me to be my best self on the court and I am always looking for that extra edge against my competition no matter how small it could mean the difference between winning and losing. AXE helps me to feel, look and smell fresh which gives me the confidence boost to take on any challenge. The fresher I feel the better I play!

Going into this new chapter of my basketball career, I’m excited to have partners like AXE supporting me. Here’s to my new chapter. “

Red Bull Culture Clash

Red Bull Culture Clash, the innovative live music experience where four crews face off to win over the crowd and celebrate Jamaican sound system culture, returned to New York Thursday May 19.

Crews and their participating artists were given the reins to take over each corner of a venue and faced off for a four-round bout, bringing big sound, heavy tunes, and fierce competition all in an effort to outshine their competition and win over the crowd. The winners were selected based on crowd response.

The event was hosted by Gitoo and featured top New York-based collectives APOCALIPSIS, Club Cringe, Half Moon, and CORPUS and special guests including 2 Milly, The Kid Mero, Kalifa, CLIP, Show Me the Body, M.O.P (Lil’ Fame and Billy Danze), Capella, Ricky Blaze, and Havoc from Mobb Deep.

Everything was left on the stage as APOCALIPSIS was crowned the winner of the East Coast showdown.

APOCALIPSIS, featuring Dana Lu, Riobamba, Bembona, LITA, Nino Augustine, Dos Flakos and JFuse, is a NYC-based record label founded by Ecuadorian-Lithuanian artist Riobamba. APOCALIPSIS amplifies the stories of artists de aquí y de allá (from here and there), doing everything in its power to re-distribute equity in the music industry.