Posts tagged with "freedom"

Women’s March Action

Today, the United States Supreme Court in a 6-3 decision, overturned Roe v. Wade, ruling that a women’s right to an abortion is unconstitutional.

The following statement can be attributed to said Emiliana Guereca, Executive Director, Women’s March Action:

“The right wing has taken over the Supreme Court and women’s rights are being decimated. Today’s decision led by an extreme right majority on the nation’s highest Court will set women, and us all, back decades.

Women and our allies – who make up the majority of the country — will not stand idly by and watch our rights stripped from us without recourse. We will fight back. We will take to the streets in red to show the blood they have on their hands.

The work is already underway and will continue to put a stop to the draconian rollback of our rights and freedoms.

Come November, we will elect pro-reproductive rights candidates across the country and bring us back to 21^st Century America, when a woman has the freedom to make decisions over her own body and life.

This decision puts the next generation and those to come at grave risk. We have failed our daughters and granddaughters. We will continue to take to the streets and to the polls to fight for our bodily autonomy.

Today’s decision is perhaps the starkest reminder that the small, extreme few can control the many. We must defend our Democracy and not allow them to take anything more away from us.”

To learn more about the Women’s March Action, please visit: womensmarchaction.com.

GEORGE MICHAEL – FREEDOM UNCUT

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Sony Music Entertainment and Trafalgar Releasing announced the premiere of GEORGE MICHAEL FREEDOM UNCUT, a deeply autobiographical feature documentary narrated by the late Grammy Award winner. GEORGE MICHAEL FREEDOM UNCUT will be released as a global cinema event on Wednesday, June 22. Details of participating countries and cinemas will be listed HERE from April 27.

Throughout the film, Michael reveals openly and honestly the two distinct sides of his life: his very public music career and his private personal life that cameras never truly saw. Michael was heavily involved in and dedicated to the making of this documentary before his tragic passing in 2016, making GEORGE MICHAEL FREEDOM UNCUT an incredibly special posthumous release and a poignant and moving tribute to his legacy.

The film delves into the turbulent period after Faith leading up to, during and after the making of his “Listen Without Prejudice: Vol 1” album in 1990. At this pivotal period of his life, Michael is able to fight for his artistic freedom and lead the way for others. He meets his first real love, Anselmo Feleppa and navigates both the heartbreak of Anselmo’s early tragic passing from an AIDS related illness and the devastating loss of his mother. GEORGE MICHAEL FREEDOM UNCUT is also a brilliant reminder of Michael’s outstanding musical genius during the Wham! years and throughout his solo career. The film features timeless duets with George’s favourite artists and explores how he influenced the cultural landscape of his generation as one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time.

Interwoven with exclusive, personal archival footage, this year’s theatrical release includes never-seen-before footage from one of the most iconic videos in music history, Freedom! ’90, directed by Oscar nominated David Fincher. The music video has been recently remastered in 4K and will screen in full ahead of the main feature in cinemas worldwide.

Produced by Big Geoff Overseas Limited in conjunction with Sony Music Entertainment and distributed theatrically worldwide by Trafalgar Releasing.

David Austin says, “The film is George’s final work. Narrated by George himself, it is the complete story.”

“George Michael was an inspiring artist whose story deserves to be shared on the big screen globally.” Tom Mackay, President, Premium Content, Sony Music Entertainment says, “In honor of George’s birthday this June, we are thrilled to be working with David Austin and our partners at Trafalgar Releasing to bring fans unprecedented access to his extraordinary life both on and off stage.”

Marc Allenby, CEO – Trafalgar Releasing says, “We are proud to be bringing George Michael’s final work to the big screen in this global cinema event. As an artist whose music continues to resonate across generations, this event will be a fitting tribute to George’s life and career, giving fans the opportunity to celebrate communally in cinemas worldwide.”

Jon Baptiste Nominated for Eleven Grammys

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Internationally acclaimed musician Jon Batiste received 11 total 2022 Grammy Award nominations, making him the most nominated artist this year.

Batiste was nominated for the following Grammy Awards:

Best Traditional R&B Performance – “I Need You,” Jon Batiste
Best R&B Album – “We Are,” Jon Batiste
Best Improvised Jazz Solo – “Bigger Than Us,” Jon Batiste, solois
Best Jazz Instrumental Album – “Jazz Selections: Music From and Inspired by Soul,” Jon Batiste
Best American Roots Performance – “Cry,” Jon Batiste
Best American Roots Song – “Cry,” Jon Batiste and Steve McEwan, songwriters (Jon Batiste)
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media – “Soul,” Jon Batiste, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, composers
Record Of The Year – “Freedom” Jon Batiste
Album of The Year – “We Are” Jon Batiste
Best Classical Instrumental Solo – BATISTE: MOVEMENT 11′ – Jon Batiste, composer (Jon Batiste)
Best Music Video – ‘Freedom’ Jon Batiste

Birthed during the first wave of the global pandemic and volatile social unrest, Batiste’s latest studio album, WE ARE, represents a body of work characterized by consciousness, rooted in catharsis, and grounded in optimism. The captivating album is a true love letter to Batiste’s southern roots and the heritage of Black music.

About Jon Batiste

One of the most prolific and versatile musicians of any generation, Jon Batiste has spent his career bringing music back to where it started—with the people. Jon was born in New Orleans into the legendary Batiste family, and later studied at the world-renowned Juilliard School in New York City. There, he established the Stay Human band which became famous for their musical virtuosity and their signature street performances called “love riots.” Batiste’s skills as a pianist, composer and bandleader quickly made him one of the country’s most sought-out collaborators and performers, with appearances that include the Grammys, Kennedy Center Honors, the US Open and the NBA All-Star Game.

In 2015, Jon was named bandleader and musical director of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on CBS. In 2018, he received a Grammy nomination for Best American Roots Performance and in 2020, he received two Grammy nods for albums he self-produced: Chronology of a Dream: Live at the Village Vanguard and Meditations (with Cory Wong). In 2020, Jon won an Academy Award for Best Original Score for the Disney/Pixar film Soul, an honor he shared with fellow composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. Jon’s work on Soul also earned him a Golden Globe, BAFTA, NAACP Image Award and a Critic’s Choice Award. Jon was the second black composer in history, after legendary jazz musician Herbie Hancock, to win an Academy Award for composition.

Jon’s latest studio album, WE ARE, was released in March 2021 to overwhelming critical acclaim. The versatility of the album which was envisioned by Batiste as he processed the tumultuous times of 2020, earned him praise by The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Billboard and more. The deluxe edition of the album, with six additional tracks, was released in October 2021. Batiste’s virtuoso composing skills will soon be showcased in his large-scale, genre-melding symphonic work “American Symphony,” set to premiere at Carnegie Hall in May 2022.

Jon Batiste × Tori Kelly – SING

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Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe winning artist and activist Jon Batiste debuts SING Feat. Tori Kelly. The uplifting and soulful track is from his upcoming release WE ARE: THE DELUXE EDITION (October 15 on Verve Records). The set features six new tracks and features including Tori Kelly, BJ The Chicago Kid, Abi Bernadoth, Big Chief Romeo and Big Freedia.

On WE ARE, released earlier this year, Batiste presented a captivating musical experience to the world rooted in catharsis, joy, freedom, contemplation and sensuality. It’s a love letter to his southern roots and the heritage of Black Music with guest appearances by Mavis Staples, Quincy Jones, Zadie Smith, PJ Morton, Trombone Shorty, St Augustine Marching 100, his father Michael Batiste, grandfather David Gauthier and many more.

Now, Batiste continues the celebration by bringing a new cohort of guests into the fold, including singer Tori Kelly, who joins Batiste on the inspirational ballad “SING,” and BJ The Chicago Kid who joins Jon on the D’Angelo-infused “Adulthood.” Big Freedia lends her signature joyful bounce to “FREEDOM,” “an exhilarating…celebration of independence” (Entertainment Weekly) and French star Abi Bernadoth joins Batiste on his empowering anthem WE ARE. Several new songs, including “WORK IT OUT” and “TELL THE TRUTH”–Uptown Remix–originally released on Batiste’s Record Store Day piece from 2020–will make their streaming and digital debut on October 15.

This year the musician’s hit song “I NEED YOU” reached #1 on the AAA Radio Charts and his album WE ARE debuted in the Billboard Top R&B Charts, Top Album Charts, and Top 200. His “I NEED YOU” music video has surpassed 13M views, he’s appeared on American Idol, Live with Kelly and Ryan, The Today Show, The Late Late Show with James Corden, CBS This Morning as guest and co-host, and of course The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Most recently, Jon Batiste continues his amazing year with stellar performances at Global Citizens Live and the Emmy Awards.

Album Track List

I NEED YOU
FREEDOM
CRY
BOY HOOD
SING Feat. Tori Kelly
WE ARE
ADULTHOOD Feat. BJ The Chicago Kid
WHATCHUTALKINBOUT
MAVIS
FREEDOM Bounce Remix Feat. Big Freedia
TELL THE TRUTH
UNTIL
TELL THE TRUTH – Uptown Remix Feat. Big Chief Romeo of the 9th Ward Hunters, Michael Batiste, Mardi Gras Indian Show
MOVEMENT 11’
WORK IT OUT
ADULTHOOD
SHOW ME THE WAY
SING
WE ARE Feat. Abi Bernadoth

People Mourn the Loss of LGBTQ+ Activist James Hormel

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Following the news of the passing of longtime People For board member, LGBTQ+ advocate, and the first openly gay U.S. Ambassador, James Hormel, People For the American Way President Ben Jealous and People For the American Way Founder Norman Lear released the following statements:

“Jim was a true hero, so full of courage, humor and generosity,” said People For President Ben Jealous. “As a longtime board member of People For the American Way, he understood that building power among young people was critical to the future of our democracy. Jim was a truly kind and lovely soul, and his loss will be felt deeply. Our hearts and prayers are with his husband Michael and their extended family.”

“I loved Jim Hormel deeply,” said People For founder Norman Lear. “Through the years he was an incredible asset to People For the American Way, a provider of ideas and insights and deep understanding. He was also a fighter, passionate about so many issues we hold dear, from voting rights to free expression and the fight against censorship. I will miss him tremendously.”

About People For the American Way

People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and build a democratic society that implements the ideals of freedom, equality, opportunity and justice for all. We encourage civic participation, defend fundamental rights, and fight to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable opportunity. Learn more: People For the American Way.

Dodi Blunts × Last Prisoner Project – Apprenticeship Program for Justice-Impacted Individuals

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Dodi Blunts and Last Prisoner Project (LPP) are excited to announce the Dodi Blunts/Last Prisoner Project Apprenticeship Program. This program is designed to help LPP constituents take their first step back into working society and offers them the mentoring, training and hands-on experience needed for a career in the cannabis industry. For 90 days, the apprentice will work with Dodi Blunts, gaining valuable experience and industry connections needed for a flourishing career in cannabis.

“Having a cannabis felony on your record makes it very hard to earn gainful employment,” said Jeff Goldenberg, Co-Founder of 2nd and Goal Ventures, the company behind Dodi Blunts, “Helping LPP constituents gain a foothold in the cannabis industry makes a ton of sense, given what the industry has taken from the community.”

The program starts in consultation with the apprentice – to determine their skills sets, experiences and interests – and determine an area of focus. The apprentice is also rotated through several different areas and functions to gain a wide variety of experience. Finally, once the program is successfully completed, the apprentice will continue their employment with Dodi or another company in the cannabis industry.

The apprenticeship program is the first initiative between Dodi Blunts and Last Prisoner Project since the launch of Dodi in April. Dodi Blunts is the brand of former NFL superstar Marshawn Lynch, who recently signed on to become a Last Prisoner Project Ambassador. The two organizations have plans for many more initiatives over the coming year.

“Last Prisoner Project is not just talking about second chances but really being about it. It only makes sense that those affected by their cannabis past have a chance to let it play a part of their futures too,” said Marshawn Lynch.

“We are beyond excited to team up with Dodi Blunts in this way,” said Last Prisoner Project Managing Director Mary Bailey. “It’s so important that these justice-impacted individuals are given a path forward and Dodi has really stepped up to the plate in a way that we at Last Prisoner Project are so appreciative of and we hope other cannabis companies will follow suit.”

The first apprentice under the new program is Katree Saunders who, in 2011, was convicted on federal charges of possession and intent to distribute cannabis during a federal effort to crack down on Nevada marijuana dispensary operators before retail sale of weed was legalized in the state. Almost a decade later, she’s still working to rebuild her life.

“Being the first LPP constituent in the program, I am excited and thankful at the same time,” said Katree Saunders. “This opportunity with Marshawn and the Dodi brand means a lot to me after being a justice-impacted individual. Having recently graduated Columbia Business School for Entrepreneurship and being accepted to the apprenticeship program, I feel like I can be a shining example of what is possible after being affected by the collateral damage of this failed War on Drugs. It’s the chance to be resilient, while making a positive impact on the community. Just because you have been formerly incarcerated, doesn’t mean you have no goals or dreams you would like to accomplish. It has given me inspiration.”

About Last Prisoner Project:

The Last Prisoner Project (LPP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to cannabis-related criminal justice reform. As the United States moves away from the criminalization of cannabis, giving rise to a major new industry, there remains the fundamental injustice inflicted upon those who have suffered under America’s unjust policy of cannabis prohibition. Through intervention, advocacy, and awareness campaigns, the Last Prisoner Project works to redress the past and continuing harms of these inhumane and ineffective laws and policies. Visit the Last Prisoner Project Website or text FREEDOM to 24365 to donate and learn more.

About Dodi Blunts:

Dodi Blunts invites fans to unite their love for sports and cannabis through high quality, high potency cannabis products, that elevate communities, support social equity issues and represent the Bay Area vibe. The brand is the brainchild of NFL superstar Marshawn “BeastMode” Lynch who professes to “having a love-love relationship with Dodi.” Dodi aims to provide the most innovative, highest potency products while exporting Oakland weed and strains to the rest of the state and the world. Dodi isn’t just a weed brand – it’s a community, a vibe and a revolution. Learn more by visiting Dodi Blunts.

A Conversation with Grandmother Edna in Franklin County, PA

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Franklin County Visitors Bureau Invites All to A Conversation with Grandmother Edna: Fabric Artist and Storyteller

Franklin County Visitors Bureau hosts Edna Williams, a fabric artist and storyteller, at the 11/30 Visitors Center on July 17.

Franklin County Visitors Bureau invites the public to A Conversation with Grandmother Edna: Fabric Artist and Storyteller on July 17 at 1 PM in the Great Room of the 11/30 Visitors Center, on the square in Chambersburg PA. Visitors can enjoy more than a dozen quilts and pillow covers, created by Grandmother Edna and learn how she expresses herself through art to tell stories of her life and America’s history. The art, called Pillow Talk is on display in the lobby of the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Centers.

Williams hails from Baltimore and is displayed at the 11/30 Visitors Center through the Franklin County Visitors Bureau’s relationship with the African American Historical Association of Western Maryland.

I reach back to move forward. It is the only way to grow, said Grandmother Edna. Her Pillow Talk display includes stories that connect directly to her mother, father, and grandmother as well as highlight her meetings with poet Maya Angelou and actor Harry Belafonte. Others tell stories related to enslavement and civil justice. Williams believes storytelling is a means to connecting people and endorses the importance of history stating, Why create a mountain when you can cross a hill.

Pillow Talk is displayed as part of the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center’s Let The Journey Begin…People, Places, Possibilities. In addition to the storytelling quilts of Grandmother Edna, the exhibit looks at the quest for freedom from the earliest European settlers to the importance of the Pennsylvania Constitution’s Environmental Amendment.

A Conversation with Grandmother Edna is free and open to the public. Following the presentation, Grandmother Edna will offer a quilting and storytelling activity to participants who want to learn a little more. To reserve seating, please register here. A Conversation with Grandmother Edna is presented by the Franklin County Visitors Bureau as part of the July 17 Chambersburg Comes To Life Celebration, which includes the living history portrayal and light show depicting the 1864 Ransoming, Burning & Rebirth of Chambersburg.

The Franklin County Visitors Bureau invites all to explore Franklin County PA and enjoy trails of history, arts and architecture, recreation, natural beauty, fresh foods, and the warm hospitality of communities like Chambersburg, Greencastle, Mercersburg, Shippensburg, and Waynesboro. Franklin County PA is located just north of the Mason Dixon Line and is an easy drive from Washington DC, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. Discover more and plan a visit at their website or by contacting 866-646-(8060).

Q×A with Grandmother Edna

By: Emily Bunn

Showcasing over a dozen quilts and pillow covers, Grandmother Edna weaves stories of her own life and chronicles American history into her fabric fashioning. The complex interweaving of Edna’s own life fluidly connects with the United States’ grappling with enslavement, civil justice, and the quest for freedom. Depicting familial relations, as well as Edna’s encounters with Maya Angelou and Harry Belafonte, Grandmother Edna brings history to life with her quilting and storytelling. 360 Magazine spoke with the artist about the success of “Pillow Talk”, what inspires her to create art, and her upcoming CD release.

When did you begin creating fabric art?

Really, I mentally began in the 1950’s [while] sitting on a stairway watching my grandmother quilting. Then, maybe somewhere around the late 80’s, I decided to pick my poems up from midnight brown paper bags writings to hand sewn quilting.

What first got you interested in American history?

Being Black in the 50’s going with my grandmother to be the help/maid. And, in the 60’s, attending an all white school.

If you were to create fabric art to express our current moment in time, what would that design look like?

I have a new quilt on exhibit titled: “There Was A Time When The Universe Was FREE.”

What inspired you to start selling your quilted creations, pillow covers, and fabric art?

First of all, my quilts will never be for sale. My pillow covers sales will I hope help fund my free educational mobile classroom called “A Grandmother’s Pilgrimage, INC.” and my Grace Wisher Reparation Recovery Youth Scholarship Fund, LLC.

What inspired the name “pillow talk” for your exhibition?

I travel through the country as an invisible soul, no one seems to listen to anything I had to say. I decided to create a nightcap to relax the busy minds of everyone–and just maybe they would have time to hear me.

What has the reaction to “pillow talk” been like?

Amazing, fresh. It’s a newness in the art world.

What has working with the The Franklin County Visitors Bureau and The African American Historical Association of Western Maryland been like?

Exciting, cool and [represents] that change is coming, History being over-hauled. Janet and Ron have been great to partner with. I hope this [exhibit] will … improve that culture sock everyone keep avoiding in this America.

Your fabric art often reflects stories from your own life. What milestones from your life have you felt were most important to include in your artwork?

It’s that front door entry thing for me. The lost traditions of my people.

Are you currently working on any exciting fabric art projects that you can reveal to 360 Magazine’s readers?

Yes, I have my new CD on release. I have a file cabinet packed with poems to be quilted. I have faith the money will come. It’s appears to be easy, but it’s very hard to get paid for a job very well done. This is all fun and relaxing for me. I tell everyone to Just sew your emotions. Thanks 360 Magazine for this new media.

Pyer Moss

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Pyer Moss First Couture Show WAT U IZ: Historic Tribute To Black Inventors

By: Kai Yeo

“We are an invention inside of an invention. Inside of the creation of race, we made blackness. Uprooted from home and put in a foreign land, we made culture. And when they tried to strip our humanity, we made freedom so tethered to each other that it still shapes the world today.” – Pyer Moss show notes.

Kerby-Jean Raymond’s Pyer Moss label has unveiled his first-ever couture collection. The award-winning designer and creative director is the first Black American designer to be invited to present during Haute Couture Week, a historical achievement made even more successful by making his collection a tribute to Black inventors. All Pyer Moss shows attract interest, but this show had more buzz because of his exclusive invite by France’s Chambre Syndicale to show a collection, with officials in Paris extending the length of Couture Week to accommodate the rescheduled show due to Hurricane Elsa.

The Pyer Moss Couture 1 couture show, WAT U IZ, was opened by the last surviving member of Black Panther leadership and civil rights champion Elaine Brown. The setting was deeply significant: Villa Lewaro, an early 20th century mansion in Irvington, NY, built by Madam CJ Walker. Madam CJ Walker was American’s first self-made female millionaire and her estate served as a gathering place for leaders of the renaissance (her story is also on Netflix). Now, Elaine Brown’s words herald another landmark moment for black culture while celebrating the Black Panther’s 55th Anniversary.

The 28,000-square-foot estate, designed by Vertner Woodson Tandy (the first licensed black architect in New York State, and one of the seven founders of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity at Cornell University), was recently purchased by the New Voices Foundation for an undisclosed amount. The foundation is the nonprofit branch of the New Voices Fund, a $100 million investment fund dedicated to entrepreneurs following in Walker’s footsteps. Both the fund and the foundation were created by Richelieu Dennis, who was seated at the front row at Pyer Moss.

“Where do we go from here? Where does the freedom movement go from here?” activist Elaine Brown opens the show quoting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but she also seemed to be reflecting on the history being made at the very moment. Jean Raymond, whose shows always entwine his ideas about fashion with those about culture, race, and society, said in an interview that his goal was “to highlight inventions by Black people and show them in a non-traditional way,” involving 3D construction and sculpture.

And so, there was the peanut butter dress, literally a huge, soft sculpted jar honoring George Washington Carver. The stunning roller cape that took two weeks to create, featuring hot rollers from head to toe. Each one wound round and round with strands of fake hair. An air-conditioning unit, a kitchen mop, an old-fashioned mobile phone he remembers his father carrying, a childhood ice cream cone. There was a pastel pink lampshade dress with beaded fringes, a metal folding chair, every single costume a sophisticated work of culture. And there was a refrigerator with magnets that spelled out, “But who invented Black trauma?” Each soft sculpture in the Pyer Moss couture show correlated to an invention on a list that designer Jean-Raymond had seen at the Library of Congress attributed to a Black individual. All the inventions Jean-Raymond chose from to celebrate spoke to his lived experiences, a beautiful show reminiscent of a masquerade ball or art installation.

Jean Raymond talks about paying homage to his Black culture, “I want people to experience Black wealth in not a dirty thing. It is one of several means to an end – this house, inventions, creativity, ingenuity, all of those things are pathways to that sort of economic independence. I’ve said a lot of things at my shows. I’ve talked about mental health, multiple prong approaches to liberation, and this is just one of them.” Richelieu Dennis will help oversee the transition of restoring the villa and making it an incubator and center for Black women artists and women-run businesses. Just as once upon a time the villa was a center for the artists and intellectuals of the Harlem Renaissance, the sculptured garments of Pyer Moss will eventually be part of an exhibit inside Villa Lewaro.

Watch the replay of Pyer Moss Couture 1 here.

Independence Day Must Haves

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Tangy Floral Spritz

The biggest birthday party of the summer is right around the corner and Cavit Wines knows the perfect way to celebrate! Toast to America with a refreshing cocktail that sparkles and shines like the fireworks on the Fourth of July. Below you will find a super easy recipe featuring Cavit’s bright and fruity Prosecco that can be made in under 5 minutes!

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

4 oz (1/2 cup) grapefruit juice

2 oz (1/4 cup) Chase Elderflower Liqueur

Ice cubes

6 oz (3/4 cup) Cavit Prosecco

2 grapefruit wedges

2 edible flowers

How to mix:

Divide grapefruit juice and liqueur between 2 glasses; fill glasses with ice cubes; top with Prosecco. Garnish each serving with grapefruit wedge and an edible flower.

Tip: Edible flowers can be found in gourmet food markets in the produce section with herbs or can be ordered and purchased online.

1800 Coco Swizzle

With the summer solstice right around the corner on Sunday, June 20^th, cocktail enthusiasts will be looking for delicious, interesting new cocktails to pass the time on the longest day of the year. Fortunately, 1800 Tequila offers the perfect mix of summer tequila cocktails made with their 1800 Silver, 1800 Cristalino, and 1800 Coconut expressions – ideal for unwinding during long summer days, whether enjoyed on vacation or kicking back after a long work week! Please find below three solstice-ready 1800 cocktails and links to purchase 1800 Silver (Drizly & ReserveBar), 1800 Coconut (Drizly & ReserveBar), and 1800 Cristalino (Drizly & ReserveBar).

2 oz. 1800 Coconut
¾ oz. fresh lime juice
¾ oz. simple syrup
6-8 muddled fresh mint leaves
2 oz. club soda

Directions: In a cocktail shaker, muddle mint leaves before adding the remaining ingredients (sans club soda) and shaking with ice. Pour into a Collins glass over fresh ice and top with soda. Garnish with a mint sprig.

Soul Insole Gel Insoles

Who says adorable sandals or flip flops can’t provide foot support? Say goodbye to foot pain and hello to comfort thanks to Soul Insole. This company which makes memory gel insoles that are designed to relieve foot, back and other body pain and gently guide the foot into proper alignment.

You can’t even see these insoles in sandals or flip flops, as they stick to any surface and are clear. They can easily be removed and washed too. Soul Insole gel insoles are perfect for summertime footwear. For more info, please visit Soul Insole’s website.

Absolutely Gluten Free’s Snacks

Absolutely Gluten-Free’s new look and feel across all products better reflects the new and delicious line of sweet and savory items that hit the market. The new line includes an assortment of scrumptious, sweet, and savory snacks that are 100% Certified Gluten-free, all-natural, OU certified kosher, grain-free, free of corn and rice, vegan, and made with only clean and wholesome ingredients.

Whether you choose a gluten free lifestyle for health, lifestyle or wellness reason, the gourmet, innovative and flavorful Absolutely Gluten Free line of snacks and treats are perfect every gluten-free occasion. Stock up for Independence Day with the line of Absolutely Gluten Free, which includes crackers and flatbreads, Coconut Chews, and macaroons. For more info, visit their website, Facebook, and Instagram.

E.Cuarenta’s Sparkling Tequila Sunrise

This refreshingly delicious cocktail is great to sip on at cook-outs and picnics. The Sparkling Tequila Sunrise starts with Bay area rapper Earl “E-40” Stevens’ E. Cuarenta tequila mixed with orange juice, then topped off with prosecco and Grenadine. The cocktail is perfect for a hot summer day.

Sparkling Tequila Sunrise:

2 oz of Tequila

3 oz of orange juice

¼ oz of Grenadine

Earl Stevens Selections Prosecco

Method: Add tequila and orange juice into a shaker, add ice, and shake. Pour into a champagne flute and add grenadine slowly. Top with prosecco. Garnish with orange slice.

Walden Farms

Walden Farms just relaunched their amazing zero calorie, zeros fat, zero sugar and zero carbs products. These products sound too good to be true, but Walden Farms has found a way to deliver healthy and delicious dips, spreads, sauces, dressings, condiments, syrups, and coffee creamers.

For those looking to replace their favorite unhealthy dressings with guilt-free alternatives, try Walden Farm’s new Ranch Dressing, Thousand Island, or Honey Dijon. Other tasty options include their BBQ Sauce for grilling, Caramel Dip for dessert, and Alfredo Sauce, which is perfect for healthy family dinners. Walden Farms helps customers find nutritious options that don’t compromise taste.

Mighty Sesame Co. Tahini

Mighty Sesame Co. offers delicious, healthy, creamy tahini. Their newest launch includes the spicy Harissa tahini favor. Tahini can be used on and in so many recipes, such as in vinaigrettes, dressings, and truffles. With a variety of options– from organic tahini, to whole seed tahini to harissa tahini– customers are sure to love this nutrient-dense, high protein sesame paste.

For those looking to stock up on Might Sesame Co’s deliciousness, the company offers the classic Tahini tub. For no-mess meal prep and easy storage, squeeze-able tahini in a bottle is available. Mighty Sesame Co. ensures that their products are sustainably sourced from Ethiopia.

Andrew & Everett Cheese

Andrew & Everett offers all natural, anti-biotic free, non-cloned sourced cheese. Their American cheese stands apart from other brands with it’s uncompromised quality and taste. Customers can order cheese shredded, pre-sliced, grated, or in bricks. The company also offers butter and seasonal cheese balls.

All of the milk in the company’s cheese is sourced from self-sustaining, family-run farms in America’s heartland– promising consumers with high-quality cheese from free range, grass fed cows. Andrew & Everett products are produced in a gluten free facility and contain no preservatives, binders, or fillers.

Indigo Wild Clothing Biodegradable Apparel

Indigo Wild Clothing creates biodegradable clothing and swimwear that is revolutionizing the fashion industry. The brand‘s unique fabric decomposes in less than five years, while most swimwear sits in a landfill for 40–200 years. Indigo Wild Clothing’s fabrics leaves zero chemicals or microplastics behind. Their brand produces zero waste and uses only biodegradable packaging materials.

Indigo Wild’s bathing suits are made for those with active, on the go lifestyles. These handmade, Hawaiian suits are becoming increasingly popular, and were recently showcased at Miami Swim Week 2021. Indigo Wild Clothing’s suits are priced at $65.00, and consumers will feel good knowing that their money is going towards an innovative and eco-friendly brand.

JON BATISTE NEW MUSIC VIDEO – FREEDOM

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Today, Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe winning musician Jon Batiste releases a vibrant new music video for his single “FREEDOM,” a celebration of Black joy, independence and New Orleans culture and energy. Watch here.

There is no better time for Jon Batiste’s song of the summer “FREEDOM,” a funk-driven 70s-pop banger that Entertainment Weekly called an “exhilarating, horn-heavy celebration of independence.”

In this electrifying love letter to his hometown of New Orleans, Batiste leads the ultimate second line through the streets, linking with the legendary St. Augustine High School Marching 100 (Batiste’s alma mater), the Joyful Choir of New Orleans, Queen Tahj of the Golden Eagles Mardi Grass Indian Tribe, dancers, musicians, and residents alike.

Jon Batiste has had a good year. The Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA winning musician’s hit song “I NEED YOU” reached #1 on the AAA Radio Charts, his album WE ARE debuted in the Billboard Top R&B Charts, Top Album Charts, and Top 200, his “I NEED YOU” music video surpassed 10MM views, he’s appeared on American Idol, Live with Kelly and Ryan, The Today Show, The Late Late Show with James Corden, CBS This Morning as guest and co-host, and of course the Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

“We Are represents a vivid turn from straight jazz to joyful, danceable pop and neo-soul… a bold declaration of conscience…” –Vanity Fair

On WE ARE, Batiste presents a captivating musical experience to the world rooted in catharsis, joy, freedom, contemplation and sensuality. It’s a love letter to his southern roots and the heritage of Black Music with guest appearances by Mavis Staples, Quincy Jones, Zadie Smith, PJ Morton, Trombone Shorty, St. Augustine Marching 100, his father Michael Batiste, grandfather David Gauthier and many more. It is a meditation steeped in the sounds of the times with collaborators including POMO (Anderson.Paak), Ricky Reed (Lizzo), Jahaan Sweet (Drake, Eminem) and others.

“I’m publicly known for some things already,” says Batiste. “But there’s so much more to know about me. It’s always been there. Now is the time to show the world my full artistry.”

Batiste continues, “WE ARE is a message of love for humanity, of humble reverence for our past, and of a hopeful future, in which we are the ones who can save us. The art reveals its motive to you. You just have to wait for the Spirit to tell you what it wants.”

A special thanks to Coach for dressing members of the cast of the “FREEDOM” video.

About Jon Batiste
One of the best-known musicians of his generation, virtuoso pianist, singer, bandleader, educator and television personality Jon Batiste has spent his career bringing that music back to where it started — that is, with the people. From his days at Juilliard, where he established his Stay Human band by playing around New York City’s subways and in street performances he called “love riots,” to his work since 2015 as the bandleader and musical director of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, the Kenner, Louisiana native has consistently channeled his superb technical skill and deep knowledge of jazz tradition towards a specific, intentional purpose: making people’s lives better and brighter, one harmonaboard (that’s harmonica and keyboard, combined) solo at a time.

Born into Louisiana’s legendarily musical Batiste family, Jon has performed and recorded widely since his teens. His flexibility as an artist, his fluency in jazz as well as popular music of all stripes, has allowed him to collaborate with legends from Wynton Marsalis, a mentor since his Juilliard days, to Prince — as well as many of the widely-varied artists who appear on the Late Show.

Batiste’s marquee performances have ranged from the Grammy’s, to the Kennedy Center Honors, to the US Open and the NBA All-Star Game — in 2015, Batiste and the Stay Human Band became the first group to play the main stage at both the Newport Jazz and Folk festivals.

Batiste played himself on the HBO series Treme and appeared in director Spike Lee’s Red Hook Summer — most recently, his music was featured in the 2020 Disney/Pixar film Soul. Batiste won a Golden Globe and Critic’s Choice Award for his participation in the soundtrack alongside Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, and the trio are currently nominated for an Oscar and BAFTA for Best Soundtrack.

He’s been awarded the American Jazz Museum Lifetime Achievement Award, the Harry Chapin ASCAP Humanitarian Award and appeared on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list; Batiste also currently serves as the Music Director of The Atlantic and the Co-Artistic Director of the National Jazz Museum in Harlem.

Jon Batiste is devoted to the education and mentorship of young musicians. He has led his own Social Music Residency and Mentoring Program sponsored by Chase, as well as master classes throughout the world. He has also led several cultural exchanges, beginning in 2006, while still a teen, with the Netherlands Trust, which brought students from the USA and Holland to perform with him at the Royal Concertgebouw and Carnegie Hall.

Batiste balances a demanding performance schedule with public speaking engagements, masterclasses, brand partnerships, community activism and acting roles. His composing and songwriting will be featured in his large-scale, genre-melding symphonic work “American Symphony,” set to premiere at Carnegie Hall in 2021 and he has been developing a Broadway musical about the life of famed painter Jean-Michel Basquiat.