Aidan Bissett returns with an introspective, headbanging, feel-good anthem for anyone who’s ever been dumped. Listen to Dumped, which he co-produced with Ryan Daly (Fitz and the Tantrums, Adam Lambert, Cyn), HERE. After writing the guitar-driven break-up song, Bissett took to TikTok to explain how the track came together in this tongue-in-cheek clip.
Getting dumped is the worst feeling in the world, but screaming this song will make you feel a whole lot better, says Aidan Bissett. The song is about learning that you are better off on your own and that it’s okay to be alone.
Director Brooke James (Troye Sivan) matches the energy of Bissett’s performance with the vibrant, kinetic official video for Dumped. Holed up in a typical teen bedroom, Bissett thoughtfully unpacks his heartbreak on the verses, then rages with his guitar on the scream-along chorus as the camera spins and zooms with equal frenzy. View the video HERE.
Dumped is the follow-up to So High which Euphoria praised as a certified summer bop this song demands to be played after dark either by the pool or the beach with a fire roaring nearby and drinks being passed around among friends. The Honey Pop declared, Aidan Bissett is an artist that everyone needs to be paying attention to. We have a feeling this is only the beginning of his genius artistry.
Born in Florida, Bissett was raised on classic rock bands like Led Zeppelin and AC/DC. He moved to Oregon with his family when he was five and started playing electric guitar in second grade. When his family moved back to Florida, he began teaching himself to produce his own music. Just a year ago, Bissett released his first single,Different, which immediately gained traction online.
As he amassed a sizable following on TikTok, he next put out Worst Girls of All Time, an anti-love-song spiked with moody guitar riffs that landed on Spotify’s Fresh Finds playlist, and More Than Friends. Written, recorded, and produced entirely by Bissett, the songs earned him major buzz and landed the 18-year-old a deal with Capitol Records before he had even graduated from high school. Combined global streams of Bissett’s first three tracks and his Capital debut single, Communication are nearing 11 million.
The National Mall is the most popular attraction in Washington, DC for good reason.The iconic buildings, memorials, and greenery are breathtaking.Biking is one of the best ways to see the glory of the National Mall. Start at the 15th Street bike trail on the Northeast Side of the White House and follow 15th street past the Washington Monument.Stay on the sidewalk and go clockwise to view the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Capitol, the Holocaust Museum, the Jefferson Memorial, and the George Mason Memorial to Ohio Drive.Continue on Ohio Drive and view the Potomac River, the Arlington Memorial Bridge andArlington National Cemetery in the distance.Hang a right on West Basin Drive to see the FDR Memorial, MLK Memorial and the DC World War I Memorial. Hang a left onto Independence Ave to see the Korean War Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and the Reflecting Pool and the Vietnam Memorial.Take Constitution Ave East and view the Federal Reserve, Constitution Gardens and the Lock-keeper’s House.Hang a Right onto 17th Street to get a close up view of the WW2 Memorial, the John Paul Jones Memorial and the Tidal Basin.
If you are feeling adventurous, cross the Arlington Memorial bridge on the North side into Virginia and cross to the West side of Jefferson Davis Highway to follow the trail to the Netherlands Carillon and a recently restored Marine Corps Memorial (Iwo Jima).
Another option is to take the South side path on the Arlington Memorial Bridge and merge onto the Mount Vernon trail.Take the scenic ride along the Potomac River to the 14th Street Bridge and ride East to land back in DC at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.
Hains Point
Hains Point is the location where the Potomac and Anacostia rivers meet and the location of East Potomac Park.Now that the SW Waterfront has been redeveloped, there are beautiful views along the road that hugs the perimeter of the park.There are trees along the route including Weeping Willows, Horse Chestnuts, Buckeyes and the oldest section of surviving Yoshino Cherry trees on the National Mall.There are also several recreational activities in East Potomac Park including swimming, tennis and mini golf.
Pennsylvania Ave Capitol/LOC/SC
Head East from South Side of the White house to the center bike lane on Pennsylvania Ave to see the historic buildings on Federal Triangle, City Hall, the Old Post Office, the National Gallery of Art and the Capitol Building. Bike up the walkway around the Capitol to the see the East side, which is the front of the Capitol and where every presidential inauguration has been held until Ronald Reagan’s in 1981. Behold the beautiful views of the Capitol visitor center, the Supreme Court and the Jefferson Library of Congress on First Street.Bike North on First past the Senate Buildings to view Union Station.
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens –Formerly known as Shaw Gardens, Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is a historic water lily farm started by Walter and Helen Shaw Fowler. It is set in the Anacostia River Tidal Wetlands and is easily accessible on the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail North bicycle Trail. Water lilies bloom from early May to mid-September and enjoy the lotus seed pod heads for three seasons. Enjoy the beautiful marshes, bird watch, or have a picnic!
Anacostia River Trail South and Kingman Island
Starting at RFK Stadium there is a lovely bike trail that hugs both sides of the Anacostia River.This trail passes Kingman Island, several boating clubs, fishermen, and beautiful views on the West Side of the Anacostia River.Cross the Philip Souza bridge and go North on the West side of the river for a complete loop, or continue South on the East side to the Navy Yard.
Navy Yard/Nats Stadium
The Anacostia river trail ends on 11th St SE.You can then cross the highway to the Navy Yard boardwalk and continue along the Potomac River and several historic military memorials to the boardwalk at Yards Park which hosts several restaurants and Nats Stadium.
Mt Olivet Cemetery and the National Arboretum
Mt. Olivet Cemetery is an underrated attraction that features some of the oldest graves in the city.Most importantly, they allow bikes on their main roads! This iconic cemetery is one of the oldest in Washington, DC and features rolling hills, ancient marble headstones and elaborate family vaults. It’s also the final resting place of Lincoln Conspirator, Mary Surratt and White House Architect, James Hoban.
This is a challenging ride with many hills, so it’s ideal for an electric bicycle.Mt. Olivet Cemetery is located in Northeast Washington, DC off of Bladensburg Road.It’s best to drive and park at the cemetery before you ride.The National Arboretum is across the street from Mt. Olivet Cemetery.Enjoy 400 acres of gardens, a world-class Bonsai collection, and a stunning display ofthe Oldsandstone Capitol columns.
Civil rights icon and Democratic John Lewis will lie in state in Washington D.C. following his death on July 17. The funeral procession, which began on Saturday, included the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where a state trooper broke Lewis’ skull during a march, and a stop in Selma. It culminated in the arrival to the U.S Capitol and the ceremony held at 1:30 pm today, and it will continue until Thursday, when he will he laid to rest in Atlanta.
The arrival of the procession prompted many regulations including street closings and prohibited items in the city of Washington D.C.. The ceremony was private, put public viewings were available as well, in addition to crowds around the hearse as it made its way to the Capitol Rotunda. Those who were inside and invited, mostly House and Senate members, sat apart in circles. Speakers such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell remembered the life of Lewis.
“John was revered and beloved on both sides of the aisle, on both sides of the Capitol” said Pelosi. McConnell remembered the “respect and love” that Lewis showed everyone. The speeches were followed by a performance of “Amazing Grace” by Christian singer Wintley Phipps. Finally, Lewis’ son John-Miles-Lewis led the conclusion of the service.
Brit Awards announces first all-female Critics’ Choice shortlist including Capitol’s own Mabel and Quality Control Music/Motown/Capitol’s Stefflon Don!
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Before they were famous, Sam Smith, Florence + The Machine, and Adele were all tipped for success by the Brits’ Critics’ Choice award. This year’s line-up has just been announced and, for the first time, it’s an all-female field. Birmingham-born MC Stefflon Don is joined on the list by soul singers Jorja Smith and Mabel. The winner will be announced on December 4th, ahead of next year’s Brit Awards. Stefflon Don has already tasted chart success this year, reaching the top 10 with Hurtin’ Me, and featuring in Jax Jones’ dance smash Instruction. Mabel, who is Neneh Cherry’s youngest daughter, has also scored a top 10 hit with the slinky single ‘Finders Keepers’. All three artists are previous nominees for the BBC Sound Of… poll, which unveiled its latest longlist on Monday. The Brit nominees were chosen by a panel of music industry experts – including critics, record label employees and the heads of the UK’s biggest radio stations. More than 100 artists were considered, with each voter selecting their own shortlist of five up-and-coming artists.
Before they become ubiquitous, brush up on the 2018 nominees below.
Click HERE to Watch Stefflon Don freestyle on DJ Whoo Kid
Stephanie “Stefflon Don” Allen was born in Birmingham to Jamaican parents, before moving to Rotterdam and finally, in her teens, settling in east London. You can hear echoes of her upbringing in her confident, inventive songs, which combine dancehall patois, grime verses, and honeyed R&B vocals. Earlier this year, she scored a top 10 hit with Hurtin’ Me.
Age: 25
From: London
Inspired by: Lil’ Kim, Foxy Brown, Missy Elliott and Destiny’s Child
For fans of: Nicki Minaj, Wretch 32, Drake
Did you know? Her moniker is a play on Teflon Don – the nickname of mob boss John Gotti – as well as “Steff London”.
She says: “I am so excited to be nominated for this amazing award. A big shout out to all my fans and dons for their support. 2017 has been lit and I can’t wait for 2018! Mad love to you all””
Click HERE to Watch Mabel perform ‘Finders Keepers’ on Sounds Like Friday Night
Born in the mountains of Malaga, Mabel was raised between Spain, London and Stockholm. Like her parents, Neneh Cherry and Massive Attack producer Cameron McVey, her music is hard to classify, but it’s rooted in the 90s R&B she used to dance to in her bedroom.
Age: 21
From: London
Inspired by: Destiny’s Child, Lauryn Hill, Brandy, Aaliyah
For fans of: Rihanna, Jhene Aiko, SZA
Did you know? Her nickname is Lil’ Bassy because, as a child, she would fall asleep to the sound of speaker-rattling bass in her dad’s recording studio.
She says: “Being nominated for the Critics’ Choice award really is a dream come true for me. So much hard work has gone into getting to this point, so to be acknowledged by something like the BRIT Awards means the world.”
“I am so excited to be nominated for this amazing award. A big shout out to all my fans and dons for their support. 2017 has been lit and I can’t wait for 2018! Mad love to you all”
Stefflon Don is a charismatic, multilingual, multitalented rapper, singer and songwriter. Speaking English, Dutch and splattering her speech with her parent’s Jamaican patois, Steff has the effortless ability to inhabit many worlds, offering a genuine, authentic global perspective through her music. Whether rap, grime, pop, bashment or bubbling, Steff sounds utterly at home. It’s perhaps why such an impressive array of artists from Charli XCX to Lil Yachty and Wretch 32 have wanted to work with the 25-year-old. One of seven siblings born in Birmingham to Jamaican parents, Steff’s family moved to Holland when she was five-years-old, where was raised in Rotterdam and enjoyed a particularly uninhibited childhood surrounded by Europeans, Turkish and Caribbean people. She had her first studio session at the age of nine and spent her teen years singing and rapping with her brothers and sisters. Steff returned to the UK when she was 14 and made an impression in 2015 with her powerful, patois-inflected version of Wretch 32’s Six Words and her take on the Section Boy’s street smash Lock Arff.
Mabel
“Being nominated for the Critics’ Choice award really is a dream come true for me. So much hard work has gone into getting to this point, so to be acknowledged by something like the BRIT Awards means the world.”
Born into a musical dynasty, Mabel spent her childhood zig-zagging with her sisters from the mountains of Malaga to Sweden, where she studied at the prestigious Rytmus Musikergymnasiet music school (before starting to write songs in London). A true child of the golden age of 00s R&B, Mabel has since blossomed into one of British pop’s refreshing and positive young role models: moving effortlessly between the worlds of music, fashion, dance and art, with her songs variously exploring female independence, sexuality, growing up and into your own skin. It’s a style Mabel continues to evolve her own way, and at her own pace: recent single ‘Finders Keepers’ has since emerged as one of the breakout hits of the year, having spent five weeks in the UK Top 10 (the third longest stint for a new British artist this year). Mabel is “blazing a trail that’s all her own” (Guardian), and 2018 looks set to confirm her status as a bonafide star who’s just getting started.
About The BRIT Awards – British Record Industry Trust
The Critics’ Choice Award is chosen by a team of experts including the music editors of national newspapers, key music and lifestyle magazines and music websites plus the heads of music at major radio and music TV stations. The Award is open to all artists who in the media and the selected Critics’ opinion will reach a significant level of success in their career the following year. Over 100 artists from a range of genres were considered for the award. The 2018 Critics’ Choice Award winner will be announced on Monday 4th December, and will be the first recipient of the specially designed Anish Kapoor award.
The BRIT (British Record Industry Trust) Awards are organized by the BPI – the record labels’ association that promotes British music. The BPI’s membership is made up of over 400 independent labels as well as the UK’s three major record companies – collectively they account for around 85 per cent of the music consumed in the UK and around one in eight of all the artist albums sold around the world.
