Posts tagged with "GRAMMY award winner"

KIMBRA – “SAVE ME”

KIMBRA ANNOUNCES UPCOMING ALBUM ‘A RECKONING’

RELEASES NEW SINGLE & VIDEO “SAVE ME”

Today, two-time Grammy-award winning artist Kimbra announces her upcoming studio album A Reckoning. To coincide with the announcement, she has debuted new single “Save Me” alongside a music video directed by Yvan Fabing.

LISTEN & WATCH “Save Me” HERE

Set for release in 2023, A Reckoning is primed to be a reflective record capturing the macro reckonings that impact our world around environment, race, feminism health and patriarchy through the eyes of the archteypal Mother. But at the heart of her record is the war with the micro reckonings that Kimbra faces internally. It’s the most sonically autonomous and confessionally raw she has ever been, finding influence in everything from modern movie soundtracks to electronic and industrial worlds. The album was first imagined in 2018, during Kimbra’s tour with co-producer Ryan Lott of the band Son Lux, who recently scored A24’s Everything Everywhere All At Once.

On “Save Me,” Kimbra shares a moment of deep yearning set on a bed of unsettling warped pianos. She explores how two internal realities can be present at once : chaos and contemplation, rage and still life-force. Inspired by a singular moment, she searches her insecurities with hopes that someone will save her from herself.

The track is brought to new light in the music video that shows the pop singer in Iceland, traversing dangerous, surreal terrains as she seeks to heal her relationship to self, to other women, and finally to our Mother Earth.

More to come from Kimbra.

About Kimbra:

New Zealand-born pop star and two-time Grammy Award winning tour de force Kimbra is readying her fourth studio album, A Reckoning, produced in tandem with Son Lux’s Ryan Lott.

This is just the latest chapter in a series of Kimbra’s overall career success: the experimental pop performer’s 2011 debut, Vows, bowed at No. 14 on the Billboard Top 200 and was certified platinum in Australia and New Zealand. She received Best Female Artist two years in a row at the ARIA Music Awards and took home 5 New Zealand Tui Awards including Album of The Year in 2012. That same year, she exploded into the public consciousness with “Somebody That I Used To Know,” a duet with Gotye that earned her two Grammy Awards for “Record of the Year” and “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance,” as well as reaching No. 1 on global charts (across 18 countries) and selling more than 13 million copies.

Her 2014 sophomore record, The Golden Echo, highlighted her eclectic style with a diverse set of collaborations from Thundercat, Omar-Rodriguez Lopez of The Mars Volta, Bilal, and John Legend. Likewise, her third LP, 2018’s Primal Heart, saw her touring with the likes of Beck, Odesza and David Byrne. Kimbra has performed on TV shows such as Saturday Night Live, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Last Call with Carson Daly, Late Show with David Letterman and Late Night with Seth Meyers, as well as performing at festivals such as Coachella, Austin City Limits and more.

Moving forward, Kimbra hopes listeners will find catharsis and connection on A Reckoning, whether they are contending with change in their own lives or processing shifts in the world around them.

For more information on Kimbra, please visit:

Quest for Craft

Craftsmanship takes skill, ultimate craftsmanship requires heart. A family-owned business with 130-years of experience perfecting the craft of whisky-making, The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky is rooted in a spirit of innovation and deep curiosity to expose the intangible elements that make something exceptional. As part of their continued partnership and shared mission to uncover the beautiful convergence of craft and creativity, The Balvenie and 6-Time GRAMMY Award Winning musician, Academy Award-winning filmmaker, producer, DJ, director, culinary entrepreneur and New York Times best-selling author Questlove have returned with a second season of their award-winning digital series, Quest for Craft.

Quest for Craft explores the obsessive, never-ending journey to craft the extraordinary through conversations with compelling cultural creators that pour their hearts into their own craft. Now in its second season, the series continues to peel back the curtain through new perspectives, unveiling the uniquely human attributes and deep intrinsic values that elevate something from great to exceptional. With insight from some of the world’s most creative minds, the series uncovers the nuances integral to the creative process through their own pursuit of craft across music, dance, writing, comedy and the whisky-making process.

“The Balvenie is anchored in heart, and that’s exactly what drives this project, our guests and myself, personally. There’s no substitute for that kind of passion needed to drive the continual pursuit of the extraordinary,” said Questlove. “Coming back for season two of Quest for Craft, we dig in deeper and hone in on the elements that have inherent value and major impact on the creative process. From conversations with four of the greatest minds of our generation, who I’ve known and admired for years, I’ve been able to gain a completely new perspective on who they are as creators and apply their learnings to refine my own creative approach.”

In its second season, again filmed in the iconic Electric Lady Studios in New York City, Quest for Craft takes the viewer on an even deeper dive into the world of craftsmanship by analyzing creativity through the lens of chemistry, place, perfection and expression with guests:

Chapter 5, Craft and Expression with Music Producer and Star-Studded Collaborator Mark Ronson – Questlove and Mark Ronson delve into the unique magic of cohesion with creative collaborators, and advice for creators to leave their own distinctive mark.
Chapter 6, Craft and Perfection with History-Making Professional Ballet Dancer Misty Copeland – Questlove and American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Misty Copeland consider whether practice really does make perfect, her unconventional path to professional dance and how self-expression and defying expectations can allow you to attain your own ideal.
Chapter 7, Craft and Place with Author and New York City Guru Fran Lebowitz – Questlove and Fran Lebowitz explore the impact your environment can have on your craft, and the two go on a journey through New York… without even leaving Electric Lady Studios.
Chapter 8, Craft and Chemistry with Comedian and Master of Ensemble Kenan Thompson – Questlove and Kenan Thompson discuss his 20 years on SNL, “30 Rock University” and the remarkable experience of working as part of an ensemble.

“Craft and creativity are inextricably linked, and are at the core of our distillery’s past, present and future. As a family-owned company dating back to 1892, The Balvenie leads with a legacy of long-term innovation and a steadfast commitment to excellence made possible by our Five Rare Crafts, comprised of unmatched ingredients, processes and people,” said Greg Levine, Vice President, Marketing, Single Malt Scotch Whiskies USA. “In its second year, Quest for Craft builds on the tenants of craftsmanship explored in season one, and unveils even more truths behind modern creativity and inspiration. With deep knowledge of music, entertainment, culinary and literary fields, and having literally written the book on the subject of creativity with Creative Quest, we’re reminded how perfectly positioned Questlove is to help us unpack the uniquely human elements that elevate the great to the exceptional.”

In 2021, The Balvenie embarked on a new creative journey with the arrival of Quest for Craft: Season One, a disquisitive digital series hosted by Questlove. Over the four episodes featured in its inaugural season, The Balvenie and Questlove embark on thought provoking conversations around the creative processes, inspirations and aspirations of legendary GRAMMY Award-winning music producer Jimmy Jam, SNL comedian Michael Che, punk-rock icon Patti Smith, and prolific author Malcolm Gladwell. The series won the 2021 Shorty Award in the Industry: Wine, Beer & Spirits category and 2021 Brand Film Award in the Consumer Goods category.

Quest for Craft is the hallmark collaboration of a multi-year partnership between The Balvenie and Questlove and an extension of The Balvenie’s global campaign The Makers Project, in which the brand brings to life not just the skill but the heart of makers around the world via content series, exhibits, auctions and experiential events. The partnership began in late 2020 and intends to unpack the uniquely human elements that impact modern creativity.

For more information on the partnership between The Balvenie and Questlove, and to watch the full Quest for Craft series, subscribe to The Balvenie YouTube channel or visit us.thebalvenie.com/the-makers and @balvenieus.

About The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Nestled in the picturesque surroundings of Dufftown, Speyside, The Balvenie distillery has been handcrafting whisky for more than 125 years, notably the most handcrafted of single malts. Nowhere else can you find a distillery that grows its own barley, malts in its own traditional floor maltings, and still employs a team of coopers to tend to the casks alongside a coppersmith to maintain the stills.

With a team committed to ultimate craftsmanship, their dedicated characters pour their soul and obsession into every single bottle. This demonstrates that, whilst it takes skill to make something great, it takes true heart to make it extraordinary. And of course, Malt Master, David C. Stewart MBE presides over the all-important maturation process.

Founded in 1892 by William Grant, The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky is produced by William Grant & Sons Ltd, an award-winning independent family-owned distiller and today run by his direct descendants. Each expression has a very individual taste, rich, luxuriously smooth and underpinned by the distinctively honeyed character of The Balvenie. For further information, visit www.thebalvenie.com.

About William Grant & Sons

William Grant & Sons Holdings Ltd. is an independent family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded by William Grant in 1887. Today, the global premium spirits company is run by the fifth generation of his family and distills some of the world’s leading brands of Scotch whisky, including Glenfiddich®, The Balvenie® range of handcrafted single malts and the world’s third-largest blended Scotch, Grant’s®, as well as other iconic spirits brands such as Hendrick’s® Gin, Sailor Jerry® Spiced Rum, Tullamore D.E.W.® Irish Whiskey, Monkey Shoulder® Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, and Drambuie® Scotch Liqueur.

Founded in 1964, William Grant & Sons USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of William Grant & Sons, Ltd. and features one of the fastest-growing spirits portfolios in the US with brands including Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Hendrick’s Gin, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey, Drambuie, Milagro Tequila, Fistful of Bourbon, Grant’s, Hudson Whiskey, Gibson’s Finest, Monkey Shoulder, Clan MacGregor, Reyka Vodka, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Flor de Caña Rum, The Knot, and Raynal French Brandy. For more information on the company and its brands, please visit www.williamgrantusa.com.

About Questlove

Academy Award-winning filmmaker, drummer, DJ, producer, director, culinary entrepreneur, New York Times best-selling author, and member of The Roots – Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, is the unmistakable heartbeat of Philadelphia’s most influential hip-hop group. He is the Musical Director for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where his beloved Roots crew serves as house band. Beyond that, this 6-time GRAMMY Award winning musician’s indisputable reputation has landed him musical directing positions with everyone from D’Angelo to Jay-Z.

In 2021, Questlove made his directorial debut with the Academy Award winning feature documentary Summer of Soul, which explores the legendary 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. The film premiered on the opening night of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival, where it was awarded the “Grand Jury Prize” and “Audience Award for Best U.S. Documentary.” Questlove was also recently honored with the Sundance Institute’s 2021 Vanguard Award for his work on the film. The movie broke the record for the highest selling documentary to come out of Sundance when it was acquired by Searchlight/Hulu and it has since gone on to win “Best Feature Documentary” at the 2022 Academy Awards, “Best Documentary” at the 2022 British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) and “Best Music Film” at the 2022 Grammy Awards, as well as a Peabody Award. The film was additionally named “Best Documentary” by The National Board of Review, “Documentary of the Year” by the London Critic’s Circle Awards, “Best Music Documentary” by the International Documentary Association and notably received six Critic’s Choice Documentary Awards in the categories of “Best Documentary Feature,” “Best Director,” “Best First Documentary Feature,” “Best Editing,” “Best Archival Documentary” and “Best Music Documentary.” Questlove also was named “Best Director” by the International Documentary Association and received a nomination for “Best Director” by the Directors Guild of America for his work on the film. In addition, Summer of Soul was named the “Best Movie of 2021” by The New York Times and was named one of the best of the year by The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, Entertainment Weekly, The Washington Post, TIME Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, Rolling Stone, Forbes, The Guardian, The Wrap and People Magazine. President Barack Obama also named Summer of Soul one of his “Favorite Movies of 2021.” The Summer Of Soul (…Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised) Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was released via Legacy Recordings on January 28, 2022.

Outside of Summer of Soul, Questlove partnered together with Black Thought of The Roots to Executive Produced the acclaimed documentary series, Hip-Hop: The Songs That Shook America on AMC under their production company, Two One Five Entertainment. Together, in 2020, the pair announced a first-look deal with Universal Television to develop scripted and non-scripted programming. In 2022, Two One Five Entertainment is set to executive produce Sam Pollard’s The League, a documentary centered on the tumultuous journey of Negro league baseball and also produce an upcoming documentary on the legendary Sly Stone, as well as various projects with partners such as Disney Jr. This year the company will executive produce Descendant, a feature documentary on the historic discovery of The Clotilda, the last known slave ship to arrive in America illegally transporting enslaved Africans. The documentary, which made its world premiere at Sundance in 2022, was acquired by Netflix. Higher Ground, President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s production company, will present the film, alongside Netflix.

In addition to his film and TV work, Questlove continues to cement himself as one of the most sought-after DJs in pop-culture with a resume that includes gigs for The Academy Awards, The White House, Cartier, and hotels and nightclubs around the world. After streaming nearly 300 virtual DJ sets during the pandemic in 2020, he used this momentum to launch his own Twitch show called GO DJ, which champions sets from renowned international peers.

Questlove has written multiple books including the New York Times bestsellers Mo’ Meta Blues and Creative Quest, the GRAMMY nominated audio book Creative Quest, Soul Train: The Music, Dance and Style of a Generation, the James Beard nominated somethingtofoodabout, Mixtape Potluck and the newly best seller Music Is History.

Adding to his multitude of multi-hyphenates, Questlove served as the Executive Music Producer and Composer on the A&E Miniseries Roots. He also scored Chris Rock’s film, Top Five and co-produced the GRAMMY Award winning Original Broadway Cast Recording of Hamilton. Questlove also hosts his own acclaimed podcast Questlove Supreme on iHeart. In 2020 Questlove co-starred in Disney Pixar’s Academy Award-winning animated feature Soul, which landed him an NAACP Image Award nomination for “Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance.” Most recently in 2022, Questlove was named one of “The 100 Most Influential People of 2022” by TIME.

Quest for Craft is executive produced by Questlove, The Balvenie, Alexis Rosenzweig, and Two One Five Entertainment.

KID CUDI – Entergalactic

GRAMMY Award-winning multiplatinum sonic visionary, artist, producer, actor and director Kid Cudi has announced a pre-save for his anxiously awaited tenth full-length album and one of the most anticipated projects of 2022, Entergalactic. In addition to the pre-save, Cudi and NETFLIX also revealed the official trailer for the project. The show and the album will be released on September 30.

Watch the trailer HERE
Pre-save Entergalactic HERE
Key art HERE and new images HERE

Cudi commented, “Entergalactic is everything I’ve always wanted to do, create a long-form visual companion to an album. It all started with the music which helped bring this storyline and these characters to life. Entergalactic is unlike anything I’ve ever done, certainly my most ambitious project to date; I can’t wait for you to finally experience it.”

He initially set the stage for the album with “Do What I Want.” Right out of the gate, it amassed 11.7 million Spotify streams and counting. Beyond plugs from HYPEBEAST, XXL, NME, and more, Stereogum proclaimed, “‘Do What I Want’ is a chilled-out track with an even, skittering beat with Cudi rolling through lyrics about feeling settled and creatively powerful.”

Cudi also serves as an EP on Entergalactic alongside Kenya Barris, through their respective production companies Mad Solar and Khalabo Ink Society.

Kid Cudi is about to complete the North American leg of his To the Moon – 2022 World Tour. He closes it out with a bang, performing a hometown gig in Cleveland, OH for his own Moon Man’s Landing Festival. In the Fall, “To The Moon” travels to the Toyosu PIT in Japan and all over Europe, including The O2 in London, Verti Music Hall in Berlin, AFAS Live in Amsterdam, Palais 12 in Brussels, and the Zenith in Paris, with Milan closing out the tour at Fabrique on November 22. The full confirmed itinerary below.

“To The Moon” Tour 2022 (remaining dates)

About Entergalactic:

Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi and Kenya Barris join forces to present the television event Entergalactic, an original, immersive, animated story about a young artist named Jabari — voiced by Mescudi — as he attempts to balance love and success. Finding the latter brings Jabari a step closer to the former, when moving into his dream apartment introduces him to his new neighbor, photographer it-girl, Meadow — voiced by Jessica Williams. An explosion of art, music, and fashion, Entergalactic takes place in the only city that can handle all three: New York. Alongside Mescudi and Williams, Entergalactic boasts an all-star cast including Timothée Chalamet, Ty Dolla $ign, Laura Harrier, Vanessa Hudgens, Christopher Abbott, 070 Shake, Jaden Smith, Keith David, Teyana Taylor, Arturo Castro and Macaulay Culkin.

John Legend – Legend Album

Multi-platinum, 12-time Grammy Award-winner John Legend released his highly anticipated eighth studio album, LEGEND, via Republic Records. Executive produced by Legend and prolific producer-writer Ryan Tedder (Beyoncé, Adele, et al), the vibrant double album is suffused with an unapologetic spirit of sensuality and joy, informed by the full vulnerability of pain, praise and healing. LEGEND is available to stream/download HERE.

ACT I of the epic double album recalls vividly the worldly, sensual pleasures of Saturday night – full of lust, self, sex and adventure. It opens with “Rounds”, an immersive joint featuring Rick Ross, an artist with whom Legend has collaborated perhaps more than any other. Other tracks include the smoldering R&B bedroom romp “Splash” featuring Jhene Aiko and rapper Ty Dolla $ign, “Dope,” a “summery, feel-good track” featuring rapper JID (Rolling Stone) and “Love,” featuring Jazmine Sullivan, whom Legend has known since she was a young artist. ACT I climaxes in the immediately addictive and utterly uplifting “All She Wanna Do” featuring Saweetie, which Uproxx called a “sexy, dancefloor banger” and Rolling Stone described as a “roller disco jam.”

ACT II evokes the feeling of a Sunday morning, with its focus on healing, intimacy, soulfulness and commitment. It includes “Honey,” “a sultry, jazz-inspired” R&B track featuring Muni Long (Billboard) and “Wonder Woman,” a touching tribute to the power and grace of all the women in Legend’s life featuring the nostalgic, soulful Dap Kings. Other tracks on ACT II include “Good,” featuring Ledisi, a tale of intimate healing and the relief that comes with knowing you’re in a relationship with the right person and “Pieces,” a devastatingly beautiful ballad about living with loss and grief.

LEGEND has the feeling of a classic, and yet feels new, representing a fresh start for the artist with record label Republic, and a playful, adventurous feel. At the same time, it asserts its place in the canon of Black art, where honoring one’s ancestral story is as much part of existence as is that love, beauty and joy.

“I never feel divorced from my ancestors,” said Legend. “I have such reverence for my musical heritage, that I don’t feel like I need to leave it behind to be adventurous, or creative, or to try something new. When I’m creating something new, I’m still hearing the voices and influences of Stevie, Marvin, Curtis, Aretha, Nina, Donny and Prince. Black musicians have always been at the forefront of innovation in music. But where I think hip hop is always about what’s new, with soul music, we are a bit more nostalgic … and hopefully what we’ve been able to do with LEGEND is that synthesis of looking forward, but also connecting with where we come from.”

Legend is set to perform “Pieces” from the new album at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 12. Next month, the EGOT winner will return to Las Vegas for his critically acclaimed “Love in Las Vegas” residency, with shows running from October 14 through October 29. Billboard previously raved about the show, saying “…Legend held the full house in his hands as they danced, screamed and aah-ed their way through a generous set encompassing the multiple Grammy winner’s eight-album catalog of hits and fan faves.” Tickets are available HERE.

Connect with John Legend:

VERY HANDSOME STUDIO

Listen to the creators of a Very Handsome Studio on 360 MAG Apple/Spotify podcast HERE.

In 2020, Vy Truong and Han Dang, co-founded the emerging Houston-based architectural design firm, Very Handsome Studio [VHS]. Together, the duo, like Megan and Beyoncé in Savage, has a decade of industry experience, specializing in the areas of housing, education, hospitality and commerce.

Truong was born in Houston and attended Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design, majoring in interior architecture. Truong’s mother was a real estate agent and often remembers visiting open houses, “Not so great homes.” Upon witnessing numerous lackluster spaces, Truong became interested in transforming them, “After you see so many, the first thing you kinda wanna do is [ask yourself the question] … how do I improve this space?” It was then that she started her journey as an interior designer. Thus, once she finished her academic career, she quickly concluded that staying in her hometown would be financially advantageous. After all, this is Act I of their renaissance.

Dang, a Vietnamese native, also studied at Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design and holds a degree in Interior Architecture. In the course of adolescence, her insatiable desire for placement and texture was evident. She has a memory of collecting design magazines and cutting pages. While in college, she studied abroad in Central Europe. This tour was an eye-opener for interior inspiration.

When Covid-19 struck, completely locking down Houston’s city center, it adversely affected multiple businesses within a variety of sectors. On the upside, the economic downturn allowed Dang and Truong to solidify their atelier at a much lower price point. Nevertheless, the design dyad remained positive and became more sensitive to the growth and development of their enterprise, “You win some, you lose some.” To date, their agency has witnessed an increase in new accounts, resulting in more than twenty divestitures since its inception.

Very Handsome Studio enthusiastically works in tandem with a plethora of establishments as well as a myriad of restaurants flourishing in the vicinity of their headquarters. Still in its infancy, Truong and Dang of VHS are far beyond achieving what they never imagined.

About Very Handsome Studio:

VHS projects include a conceptual Smash Burger with a bodega theme, children’s academy, speakeasy slash sushi bar alongside an Italian seafood restaurant. At last, Truong and Dang are ecstatic to share their eclectic conceptions with the world, “We are knocking on wood until the doors open.” And soon, they will be at the podium receiving a Cooper Hewitt, the Smithsonian Design Museum’s National Design Award.

Follow Very Handsome Studio:

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Very Handsome Studio is a design firm based in Houston featured in 360 MAGAZINE

Very Handsome Studio design firm project in Houston via 360 MAGAZINE

Article: Vaughn Lowery, Lana Heaney

NE-YO AT DRAI’S

Ne-Yo Excites Crowds with Over-The-Top Performances at Drai’s Beachclub • Nightclub

Three-time Grammy-award winner Ne-Yo excited fans with two rockin’ performances at Drai’s Beachclub • Nightclub over the weekend.

On Sunday, Aug. 14, Ne-Yo got the packed house of daytime partygoers at Drai’s Beachclub on their feet dancing to his hit songs such as “Miss Independent” and “Because of You.” The high-energy afternoon concert was Ne-Yo’s first ever performance at Drai’s Beachclub and is part of his ongoing Drai’s residency.

Ne-Yo also lit up the stage on Saturday, Aug. 13 at Drai’s Nightclub, where the crowd provided an explosion of backup vocals, singing along to hits like “So Sick” and “She Knows,” complete with laser lights, smoke, backup dancers and an unbeatable visual display. The artist recently dropped his highly anticipated album, “Self Explanatory,” on July 15.

Made famous in the early 2000s, Ne-Yo began his musical journey as a teen and has been in the music industry for over 24 years. His debut studio album, “In My Own Words” (2006), reached the number one spot on Billboard’s 200 chart. The artist has released a total of eight studio albums, more than 40 singles and numerous appearances with other artists.

Weekend clubgoers also enjoyed performances by Rick Ross on Friday, Aug. 12 and Lloyd on Sunday, Aug. 14 at Drai’s Nightclub and Rick Ross again at Drai’s Beachclub on Saturday, Aug. 13.

photo credit Radis Denphutaraphrechar

SHIMON PERES NEW DOCUMENTARY ON NETFLIX

“Never Stop Dreaming: The Life and Legacy of Shimon Peres” To Debut On Netflix

Three U.S. presidents are featured as part of Shimon Peres’ final extensive interviews.

“Never Stop Dreaming: The Life and Legacy of Shimon Peres,” which will be available on Netflix, features interviews with Peres family members, friends, close associates, as well as a long list of world leaders. Among the world leaders who gave interviews are former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Oscar and Grammy Award winning actress, director and singer Barbra Streisand speaks about her long friendship with President Peres.

This film biography began shooting in close cooperation with Mr. Peres in early 2016, several months before his death. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, two-time Prime Minister and ninth President of the State of Israel, gave Academy Award® winning writer and director Richard Trank, executive producer of the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Moriah Films, and his crew more than 50 hours of archival interviews examining his life.

Peres walked the crew though his childhood in Belarus and his teenage years in British Mandate Palestine, the years he first became involved in politics, meeting his mentor David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister, and more.

Among the topics President Peres discussed in depth were the period in which he helped to build Israel’s military and nuclear program; the Six Day and Yom Kippur wars; the role he played in 1976 organizing Israel’s heroic rescue of hostages in Entebbe; and his many hours focused on the Oslo Peace Accords. Peres also reflected on his legacy, on his belief that Israel’s advances in technology and science will ultimately bring peace to the Middle East and why his optimism never wavered.

The film releases on Netflix July 13.

ABOUT RICHARD TRANK:
Richard Trank is an Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker and Director/Executive Producer of Moriah Films, the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Two-Time Academy Award-winning film division. Trank’s 15 films are currently streaming on every major platform and have been viewed by over a billion people across the globe.

Trank has also been the recipient of prestigious entertainment industry honors from the Writers Guild of America, PEN, and his documentaries have won awards at film festivals around the globe. His opinion pieces have appeared in publications including The Jerusalem Post, The Hill and The Hollywood Reporter. He has spoken on panels, at symposiums and conferences worldwide and is a respected member of the international documentary community.

GLAAD × GEORGE MICHAEL

GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization, along with Sony Music Entertainment and Trafalgar Releasing, presented a new clip from the upcoming autobiographical feature documentary GEORGE MICHAEL FREEDOM UNCUT. Additionally, GLAAD.org has posted an in-depth interview with the co-director and producer of the film, George Michael’s songwriting partner and long-time collaborator, David Austin. View the clip and the interview HERE.

David Austin said, “We are very proud to Partner with GLAAD – George was proud of his sexuality and campaigned throughout his life for everyone to have the freedom to be who they wanted to be and love who they wanted to love.”

Anthony Allen Ramos, Vice President of Communications & Talent of GLAAD, said, “Pride Month is a perfect opportunity to remember the trailblazing legacy of George Michael within the music industry and beyond. The release of GEORGE MICHAEL FREEDOM UNCUT will help audiences learn so much about the performer’s extraordinary life. It is truly special to see the film’s never before seen footage and personal stories about his touching love story with Anselmo Feleppa, who unfortunately left us far too early.”

A poignant and moving tribute to the legacy of one of Britain’s greatest performers, in his final work George Michael reclaims the narrative of his career, personal life, and controversies. 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.

Narrated by the late Grammy® Award winner himself, GEORGE MICHAEL FREEDOM UNCUT delves into the turbulent period after “Faith” leading up to, during, and after the making of Michael’s “Listen Without Prejudice: Vol 1” album in 1990. At this pivotal time, Michael can fight for his artistic freedom and lead the way for others. As the film clip posted at GLAAD beautifully illustrates, it was at this period of his life when Michael meets his first real love, Anselmo Feleppa, and nothing is ever the same for him. The moving film later explores how the legendary singer navigates both the heartbreak of Anselmo’s early tragic passing and the devastating loss of his mother.

The documentary features numerous celebrities, with contributors including Stevie Wonder, Sir Elton John, Ricky Gervais, Nile Rogers, Mark Ronson, Tracey Emin, Liam Gallagher, Mary J. Blige, Jean-Paul Gaultier, James Corden, Tony Bennett, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, and Tatjana Patitz.

GEORGE MICHAEL FREEDOM UNCUT is produced by Big Geoff Overseas Limited in conjunction with Sony Music Entertainment and distributed theatrically worldwide by Trafalgar Releasing.

In celebration of George Michael’s iconic album Older, Sony Music will release a deluxe, limited-edition box set in July. The set will also be available in digital/CD/2LP formats. Older was George’s third album as a solo artist and would see him experimenting with new musical styles and expanding his artistic horizons. Hailed by critics as a triumph, it told the story of an extraordinary period in the life of the man who wrote, recorded, and produced it, as he journeyed through one of the most turbulent periods of his professional and personal life.

Tickets on Sale for June 22 Worldwide Cinema Event at HERE.

MARY J. BLIGE TOUR

One of Time Magazine’s icons listed in “The 100 Most Influential People of 2022” and the recipient of the 2022 “Billboard ICON Award,” the undisputed Queen of Hip Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige, announces her Good Morning Gorgeous tour presented by Hologic in partnership with The Black Promoters Collective (BPC). GRAMMY Award-winning and Oscar-nominated Blige will perform in 23 cities with special guests, platinum-selling, GRAMMY Award-winning artist Ella Mai and platinum-selling rising star Queen Naija beginning on Saturday, September 17, in Greensboro, NC, and ending on Saturday, October 29 in Atlantic City, NJ. The tour also stops in Los Angeles, New York, and Atlanta.

Before offering to the general public, the Good Morning Gorgeous tour tickets go on presale today with The American Express Card Members beginning June 15 at 10 am local time through June 16 at 10 pm local time. Tickets will be available to the general public on June 17 at 10 am local and range from $69.50 to $189.50. Tickets can be purchased here.

“Mary J. Blige has been one of a select handful of artists at the top of our desired list to partner with since the initial construction of The BPC. Having her support in our mission so early in the process is a testament to the hard work we have put in to bring superior cultural experiences powered by black business to the masses. We firmly believe this is a match made in heaven and are honored to partner with the Queen,” states The BPC Co-Founder and President Shelby Joyner.

“We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Mary J. Blige as the presenting sponsor for her Good Morning Gorgeous tour,” said Steve MacMillan, Hologic’s Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. “As a global leader in women’s health, we’re committed to emphasizing the lifesaving importance of preventive screenings and the annual Well Woman exam, and Mary’s voice is a powerful way to reach millions of women.”

In addition to the previously stated accolades, the tour follows Blige’s early 2022 album release of Good Morning Gorgeous. The album was released leading into her energetic Super Bowl Halftime performance. The title track rose to #1 at R&B radio for 9 weeks and the song became a viral backdrop for many expressing self-love, with over 40,000 users creating videos using the song on TikTok. A deluxe version was dropped just ahead of her wildly successful Strength of a Woman Woman festival that took place last month in Atlanta.

For more information, go HERE.

IT’S A KELVYN BOY’S WORLD

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 Billboard to 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 Group and 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”

Keep up with Kelvyn Boy:

INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE