This May, nglccNY is proud to spotlight 360 MAGAZINE as their second nglccNY Biz of the Month! They spoke with Vaughn Lowery (he/him/his) about 360 MAGAZINE’S services and what makes his business unique. Read their Q&A with Lowery below:
What is your business?
360 MAGAZINE is an award-winning international publishing popular culture and design. We showcase state-of-the-art brands, entities and trends to creators of global tastes within their respective communities. Our founding members possess more than 30 years of collective experience both as notable talent and uber-professionals in the fields of art, music, fashion, auto, travel, spirits and entertainment. We are not just journalists, but represent an advocacy and social change movement.
What is unique about your business?
In 2009, we came up with an organization that embraced POC, women and the LGBTQIA+ community. Our mission was to extend the microphone to their once unheard-of voices. To date, the platform has continued to grow and feed neglected communities through mainstream media.
How has being a Certified LGBTBE® impacted your business? Why did you join nglccNY?
We particularly turned to nglccNY for its historical connections and maternalistic approach to boutique brands with similar perspectives. We are extremely fortunate, as are the possibilities that flow from that.
What is your favorite part about the nglccNY community?
The most intriguing component of the chapter is fellowship, consistently engaging with individuals and entities who celebrate their uniqueness as we do.
What does it mean to you to be an LGBTQ+ entrepreneur?
Being an LGBTQ+ enterpriser has enabled us to thrive and prosper in these dark times. We have expanded our volumes to include politics and tech; launched our NFT Animal Series on OpenSea; introduced 360 MAG Podcast on Apple and Spotify and published the first installment of our Move Like Water × Be Fluid series – a youthful self-help book, marketing manifest with heart wrenching testimonials. Indeed, with our certification announcement, I have become a more confident leader in a ketsado, pushing for limitless inclusion.
London-based girl group FLO releases the acoustic video for their buzzing single “Cardboard Box.”
Watch the acoustic video for “Cardboard Box” HERE and the official video HERE. In the video, they showcase their love for honeyed harmonies and rich emotion, fusing the classic old school R&B they still obsess over.
When British girl group FLO broke onto the music scene with “Cardboard Box,” their fearless debut single and official video that has captured the essence of a group at the helm of their music and visual identity, the world took note. Receiving love from global superstars including Missy Elliot, SZA, Victoria Monet and JoJo, with one tweet stating “the uk girl groups are coming hard,” featuring a clip of “Cardboard Box,” has led to over 3 million views.
Already receiving critical praise from, i-D, NME, Complex, and more, “Cardboard Box” is a staggering introduction to the world of FLO. The lyrics are harmonized over an immaculate MNEK production that fuses early ‘00s R&B, complete with irreplaceable-esque guitar figures and dancehall flavors. With an ethos of self-love, female empowerment and supporting women in music, FLO have already built a loyal fanbase on TikTok (over 150k followers and 4.1m likes) having been called “the future of R&B” (Complex) for their stripped back acapella sessions, giving new life to their favorite tunes with unbreakable chemistry.
FLO’s origin story speaks to their name—it flowed. Stella spent the first few years of her life in Mozambique before moving to the UK aged five, and met Renée at school in London, where they bonded over their joint love of singing and were familiar with Jorja via social media. Jorja was born in Germany and grew up in Hertfordshire and was on her own musical journey, but it was a chance meeting at an audition where they all locked eyes: “I saw the girls and we screamed across the room. I knew from that moment we were about to start something big,” says Jorja.
For the past two years FLO have honed everything from their sound to their look (“Us but elevated,” as Stella succinctly puts it), working with the likes of LOXE (Grammy-nominated, NAO), KABBA, Aston Rudi (Mahalia), newcomer Jamal Woon, and KAYTRANADA collaborator Lauren Faith. The sisterly bond within FLO runs deep, having all been raised by powerful single mothers and understanding the gravity, hustle and tenacity of picking this career path. It is clear that FLO’s natural bond is crystalline, and the life situations they are beginning to navigate have only brought them closer and stronger together. Join the story NOW of our next big homegrown girl group.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars celebrates the 118th anniversary of the historic first meeting between Henry Royce and The Hon. Charles Stewart Rolls – which took place on 4 May 1904
The company they founded together created ‘the best car in the world’, a position still occupied today by the marque’s products
Phantom, Rolls-Royce’s pinnacle product, has continued to evolve technically, aesthetically and dynamically to maintain its pre-eminence in the Rolls-Royce offering, and in the world of luxury
The eighth generation of Phantom reflects Royce’s held conviction that “small things make perfection, but perfection is no small thing”.
“As we reflect on Phantom’s remarkable heritage, I am struck by the unique place it occupies in the hearts and minds of our most demanding Rolls-Royce clients. Phantom is the beneficiary of the most ambitious forms of Rolls-Royce Bespoke, transforming into whatever our clients want it to be. Indeed, Phantom is not only the ‘best car in the world’, but the best car for them in their world.”
Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars marks the 118th anniversary of the first meeting between its founders, Henry Royce and The Hon. Charles Stewart Rolls at the Midland Hotel, Manchester, England in 1904.
Through the combination of Royce’s engineering genius and Rolls’ talent for promotion, their company soon became recognised as the maker of ‘the best car in the world’ – a title that Rolls-Royce Motor Cars proudly retains more than a century later.
Today, the marque’s pinnacle product – Phantom – is the ultimate expression of Bespoke luxury designed and handmade at the Home of Rolls-Royce, Goodwood. As part of its annual reflections on its origins and unique heritage, Rolls-Royce looks back through Phantom’s lineage, exploring how its namesakes evolved over the years to remain consistently at the apex of the Rolls-Royce offering.
THE ORIGINS OF EXCELLENCE
In the automotive industry’s earliest days, luxury car makers produced only the mechanical components (engine, transmission, chassis and so on) known as a rolling chassis, which underpinned the car. The bodies were designed and constructed by independent coachbuilders to the customer’s specification.
For manufacturers, including Rolls-Royce, improvements in design and engineering were directed almost entirely towards technical aspects of the car’s performance. These included reliability, hill-climbing capability, ease of control and a set of ride quality attributes still known collectively as noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).
From the outset, Phantom earned the title ‘the best car in the world’ through the superior quality and designs of the rolling chassis – the finest platform on which coachbuilders could reach the very apex of their craft.
REDRAWING TECHNICAL BOUNDARIES
The Phantom family was born in 1925 when Rolls-Royce launched Phantom I. With its massive low-range torque, cutting-edge technology and ‘Magic Carpet Ride’, the new model immediately established the fundamental traits that would define the family for the next 100 years. Then, as now, Rolls-Royce declined to rest on its laurels, and by 1929, its successor was ready for the market.
Phantom II represented another step-change in engineering and technology. In 1930, the company unveiled the Phantom II Continental, which gave customers a choice of a more performance-orientated model for those who preferred to drive themselves. The ‘standard’ longer-wheelbase car was retained for chauffeur-driven use. This practice set the precedent for today’s Phantom and Phantom Extended.
THE NEED FOR SPEED
While the new Continental could attain speeds up to 95mph, it was still not as fast as some of its rivals. The company decided to resolve the matter once and for all. In 1934, applying its proven experience with aero engines, it developed a new 7.3-litre V12 engine, mounted on a new chassis. The resulting Phantom III, when fitted with lightweight coachwork, was capable of exceeding 100mph.
In 1939, Rolls-Royce produced an experimental car, nicknamed ‘The Scalded Cat’. In later years, this car was often loaned to influential individuals, including HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The Duke was so impressed that he persuaded Rolls-Royce to build him a more formal version; the marque obliged with the first Phantom IV, delivered in July 1950. The car remains on front-line (albeit reduced) duty at The Royal Mews, under its pre-delivery codename, Maharajah. Though originally intended as a one-off, 18 Phantom IV cars were completed: 17 were sumptuously appointed commissions for other royalty and heads of state; the other, somewhat bizarrely, was built as a pick-up truck for use by Rolls-Royce as transport and on-the-road component testing.
A FINAL FLOURISH
In 1959, the marque launched Phantom V, equipped with its most up-to-date V8 engine. In 1967, the car underwent subtle technical changes that were deemed, at the very last minute, sufficient to justify its redesignation as Phantom VI.
By 1968 the only true coachbuilder left in Britain was Rolls-Royce’s own in-house company, Mulliner Park Ward. These magnificent cars soldiered on through the mid-1980s, until production dwindled to a mere two or three cars a year, and finally ceased altogether in 1992.
BRINGING VISIONS TO LIFE
Every generation up to Phantom VI was essentially a rolling chassis. The bodies were built to the owner’s individual requirements by some of the most famous and prestigious names in British and European coachbuilding.
While this was normal practice in the luxury automotive world, Phantom stood apart through its ability – thanks to Royce’s engineering genius and the excellence of the chassis’ components and construction – to carry coachwork of the very finest quality, weight and complexity.
At every stage in Phantom’s development, owners exploited its potential to the full, creating some of the most magnificent, eye-catching and radical motor cars ever to grace the road. And since the chassis and body were separate, it was possible for a subsequent owner to change the car’s appearance to suit their own taste and requirements.
Many Phantoms took on more than one guise over their long, often globe-trotting lives: in some cases, they were merely repainted; in others, the whole car was rebuilt from the chassis upwards, taking on an entirely new form and character. And for all their extraordinary diversity, every one of the examples shown below is a true Rolls-Royce in terms of its underlying engineering, materials and construction, performance, ride quality and comfort – and, above all, in being exactly as the owner wanted it.
1930 Phantom II (62GY)
This handsome Phantom II was coachbuilt by Hooper of London with a Dual Cowl Tourer body. At the request of the owner, a wealthy timber merchant from Texas, 50 additions were specified with touring intentions. These include a larger fuel tank, louvered bonnet and radiator two inches taller than standard. The car was originally purchased for the owner’s honeymoon and went on to tour the Continent extensively until 1939. The present custodian acquired the car in 1998 and has since won prestigious awards including the Louis Vuitton Classic Parfums Givenchy Trophy pre-war tourers and Most Sporting Tourer in the Biarritz Concours.
1933 Phantom II Continental (55MW)
This ‘concealed-head boat body’ was a speciality of coachbuilder Park Ward. Its main feature was the compact folding hood that, when fully retracted, was entirely concealed under the rear deck, giving the coachwork its distinctive uninterrupted line. The original upholstery was textured pigskin.
Source: ‘Park Ward The Innovative Coachbuilder’ by Malcolm Tucker.
1933 Phantom Ill (3BT103)
This rare two-door sedanca coupé was coachbuilt by HJ Mulliner for Apsley Cherry-Garrard, one of the surviving members of Captain Scott’s last, fateful expedition to the South Pole in 1912. The car was originally finished in Primrose Yellow with a dyed Vaulmol leather interior; in the late 1940s it was repainted in black. The car was briefly owned by the legendary actor Sir Ralph Richardson; it then spent time in Wales and the USA before returning to the UK in the late 70s / early 80s. It sat neglected in a barn until 2018 when it was bought by its present owner, and has now been painstakingly restored using many authentic components, including original numbered engine parts.
Source: Alpine Eagle Ltd.
1937 Phantom III (3BT85)
London coachbuilder Hooper & Co built several bodies in this striking saloon-with-division style, which looks fast even when standing still thanks to its semi-razor edge styling and swooping curves. The art-deco chrome-plated flashes to the body and wings simply enhance the sense of kinetic energy.
Source: ‘The Spectre Arises’ by Steve Stuckey.
1965 Phantom V (5VD63)
This Phantom was originally owned by Wing Commander Patrick Barthropp. In 1968, John Lennon purchased the car from Barthropp coinciding with the launch of The Beatles’ White Album. In September 1969 he sold the car to Allen Klein, an American businessman.
The car appeared in the Oscar-winning film Georgy Girl (1966), the classic Let It Be (1970), starring The Beatles, Performance (1970), featuring Mick Jagger, and then prominently featured in The Greek Tycoon (1978) starring Anthony Quinn.
In 2016 after extensive restoration, Jody Klein, a longtime Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club member brought the car to the Concurs d’Elegance, Lincolnshire, where it was awarded first place for Best In Class.
James Young, established in 1863, is renowned for creating some of the most elegant coachwork to ever grace a motor car chassis. Perhaps the pinnacle of their achievements was realised in their PV23 design, developed especially for the Rolls-Royce Phantom V chassis, with 22 such bodies being built.
This model was usually finished in black, but for 5LVF65 the lighter shade of Ivory further enhances the classic elegance of every curve and line from the pen of its acclaimed designer, A. F. McNeil.
The interior contains a remarkably spacious rear compartment, with the finest cabinetry work below the division glass. Champagne cloth to the rear compartment is chosen for greater comfort than the similarly coloured and more resilient leather that the chauffeur would enjoy.
Source: P&A Wood.
2015 Phantom VII (Serenity Phantom)
Rolls-Royce created this magnificent Bespoke Phantom VII Extended for its display at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. Inspired by opulent motor cars made for international royalty in the early 1900s, the rear passenger cabin is finished in a unique Smoke Green raw silk, specially handwoven and decorated with hand-embroidered and hand-painted Chinoiserie blossom motifs that took up to 600 hours to complete. The design also appears in the fascia and marquetry inlays in the rear doors; smoked cherrywood and bamboo elements, and details echoing the raked gravel in Japanese gardens complete the interior’s calm, natural ambiance. At the time, the Mother of Pearl exterior paint finish was the most complex – and expensive – the marque had ever produced.
2021 Phantom VIII (Phantom Oribe)
A unique collaboration saw the House of Rolls-Royce and the House of Hermès co-create a Bespoke Phantom for Japanese entrepreneur Yusaku Maezawa. Named Phantom Oribe, the motor car features a Bespoke two-tone exterior finish, inspired by the client’s world-class collection of ancient Japanese ceramics, Oribe ware. In an unusual move, the Rolls-Royce paint was made available for use on the client’s private jet that the Phantom is paired with.
The interior is finished predominantly in Hermès Enea Green leather. The Gallery features an artwork based on a design by the celebrated French artist and illustrator Pierre Péron (1905–1988), who created many of Hermès’ iconic scarves.
AN ICON REBORN
At one minute past midnight, on 1 January 2003, the first Phantom VII was handed over to its new owner – the first motor car to be produced at the brand-new Home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, West Sussex, England. A thoroughly modern interpretation of the marque’s signature lines and proportions, as first set down by Sir Henry Royce himself, it was built entirely in-house by Rolls-Royce, with monocoque bodywork to a standard design rather than coachbuilt. In one important sense, however, it retained a link with its heritage, in that every car was hand-built by a team of skilled craftspeople. Furthermore, the marque’s Bespoke programme meant Phantom was effectively a canvas upon which patrons could realise their own visions and desires.
Over its 13-year lifespan, Phantom VII cemented Rolls-Royce as the world’s pre-eminent superluxury motor manufacturer, and its own place as the marque’s pinnacle product. But just like their predecessors, Rolls-Royce’s designers and engineers understood that perfection is a moving target: that Phantom was never ‘done.’
In 2016, Rolls-Royce presented Phantom VIII. This was the first Rolls-Royce to be built on the marque’s proprietary Architecture of Luxury, an all-aluminium spaceframe designed to underpin every future motor car produced at Goodwood.
Phantom VIII was specifically designed to be the ultimate platform for Bespoke commissions. This has resulted in some of the most technically ambitious and challenging projects ever undertaken by the marque’s designers, engineers and specialist craftspeople. It is also the only Rolls-Royce model to feature the Gallery – an uninterrupted swathe of glass that runs the full width of the fascia, behind which the client can display a commissioned work of art or design.
Cynthia Erivo at The Met Gala wearing Roberto Coin jewelry valued at $436,000and Louis Vuitton Dress
As the Met Gala returns to the first Monday in May, “Fashions Biggest Night Out” certainly didn’t disappoint. The fearless fashion icon Cynthia Erivo was red hot in her 327-carat Fire Opal and 40-carat Diamond Choker ($140,000.00) from Roberto Coin. The necklace was created exclusively for Cynthia for the “Guilded Age” theme of the evening.
In addition, she was wearing the Diamond and Emerald Snake Bangle ($71,000.00), Dahlia Cento Diamond Bracelet ($130,000.00), Marquesa Diamond Bracelet ($12,800.00), Fiore Couture Cento Diamond Ring ($15,280.00), Pink Sapphire and Cento Diamond Band ($38,000.00), Rosette Cento Diamond Ring, ($8,920.00), Dolce 3-stone Cento Pear-shaped Diamond Ring ($14,740.00), Diamond Princess Tassel Ring ($5,250).
For more information on the Roberto Coin jewelry, please go HERE.
ABOUT ROBERTO COIN
Roberto Coin has been an icon in the jewelry industry for more than 30 years. His designs include his signature Appassionata Collection, the new Pois Moi Collection and the Roberto Coin Cento Diamond Collection. His collection is available in Roberto Coin Boutiques and over 400 stores nationwide including guild jewelry and specialty stores.
Since 1977 Venetian jewelry designer, Roberto Coin, has devoted his life to a passion for innovative design, based on a deep knowledge of Italian art and craftsmanship tradition. Finding inspiration in the most unlikely of places, experimenting with light, texture, color and pattern, Coin’s style is ever evolving. His diverse collection, designed to fit every woman’s uniqueness, is defined by a common thread—a thoughtful balance of elegance and creativity. Included in every piece of Roberto Coin jewelry is his signature ruby. The ruby symbolizes peace, prosperity and happiness and is a special wish from the designer.
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 Faithleading 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.”
The future of retail is being highlighted by an exciting 3D printing demonstration featuring an ABB robot in Selfridges, one of London’s premier department stores on Oxford Street. Throughout April, the demonstration will feature in a window display, with shoppers able to see an ABB robot 3D printing a variety of personalized designer objects made from Parley Ocean Plastic®—intercepted marine plastic debris collected from Parley’s Global Cleanup network.
The 3D printing demonstration is part of Selfridges’ SUPERMARKET concept, which challenges consumers to think about how the goods they purchase are produced and the impact of this production on the environment.
Marc Segura, ABB’s Robotics Division President, said, “While expanded choice is great for consumers, it also comes at a cost to the environment, with products and packaging often being discarded with little thought about where they end up or whether they get recycled.” He continued: “By re-using plastic from the world’s oceans to print designer objects, we help to highlight the important contribution of robots in creating the sustainable manufacturing processes central to a circular economy.”
Developed in partnership with environmental organization and global network Parley for the Oceans, and innovative design brand Nagami, the demonstration will use ABB’s simulation software, RobotStudio® and an IRB 6700 robot to create a variety of printed furniture, homeware and other objects made from Parley Ocean Plastic®. The robot will work with Nagami’s unique plastic extruder to print the objects which can be selected by customers on a screen and made to order on the premises.
Parley founder and CEO Cyrill Gutsch commented, “Parley Ocean Plastic® was invented to catalyze change in response to marine plastic pollution and the destruction of our oceans. Working with two industry leaders, ABB and Nagami, we can now print on demand anywhere in the world to turn a problem into a solution. Beyond the huge potential for reducing waste by printing directly inside retail locations like Selfridges, we want to use this technology to empower local communities across the globe—giving them the tools to turn local plastic pollution into business opportunities and useful objects. For the oceans, climate and life.”
As well as underlining the importance of eco-innovation, the demonstration will also help to highlight the wider potential of robotic automation in helping retailers attract customers into their stores. Robots are already being used in increasing numbers in inventory and delivery management and in-store services, with research organization Coherent Market Insightsestimating a 30% growth in the uptake of robots in retail by 2028.
Marc Segura said,“The ability to introduce robots into their stores both behind and in front of the counter offers exciting opportunities for retailers. By using robots to handle in-store micro-fulfilment operations, staff can be released to people-facing roles, allowing them to focus more on providing customers with a better all-around experience. As demonstrated by the installation at Selfridges, robots can also be used on the shop floor to enable personalized production of goods at the point of consumption, adding a whole new dimension to the retail experience.”
This new customer segment broadens ABB’s portfolio as part of a wider strategy to accelerate expansion into new and high-growth segments including logistics, healthcare, and construction.
Positioned for a major breakthrough this year, singer, songwriter, and producer BoyWithUke will embark on a much-anticipated global headline tour this spring. His headline tour begins on April 19th at Heaven in London; then he will visit multiple countries across Europe and conclude the tour in the US on May 10th at The Roxy in Los Angeles and May 12th at Bowery Ballroom in New York. Tickets will be available HERE on Friday, February 11th at 10am local time. BoyWithUke’s headline tour will be followed by a slew of dates supporting AJR on their upcoming North American tour this summer, which kicks off in May and includes shows in Nashville, Chicago, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and more. Check out the full list of upcoming dates below.
BoyWithUke‘s most recent single “Long Drives” continues to gain traction. Not only has it amassed over 7 million Spotify streams, but it has also racked up over 10 million YouTube views on the music video. Ones To Watch recently raved, “with his face hidden behind an LED faceplate, we may not know who BoyWithUke is, but one thing we know for certain is that he’s poised to be the next big thing.” Indie Shuffle noted, “the sadness of this track is electric, it surprises and enthralls,” and added, “‘Long Drives’ makes melancholy easy to listen to and utterly impactful in the space of alt-pop joy.”
Meanwhile, the success of his viral smash “Toxic” has translated across mediums. It continues to climb the Alternative Radio Chart, currently claiming a spot in the Top 20 at #16. Not to mention, its global streams have exceeded 548 million and counting. This week alone, it reached #60 on the Billboard Global 200 Chart and vaulted into the Top 75 on Spotify’s US Weekly Top Songs Chart and Top 25 on Spotify’s Global Weekly Top Songs Chart. He has also attracted north of 3.4 million followers on TikTok. SiriusXM and Amazon have both pegged him as a 2022 “Artist To Watch,” and Ones To Watch crowned him “One of the most delightful surprises of the year.” Recently, BoyWithUke performed the track for Genius’ Open Mic–watch the performance HERE!
What do we know about BoyWithUke? If you quickly scan TikTok you can figure out he is a musical artist who writes and produces all of his own music, creating songs in his dorm room on GarageBand while hiding his face from the public with his now signature glowing mask. Take a deeper look and you’ll see he frequently posts “minute long songs,” many times written in response to requests from fans. His biggest hit to date was written after a fan commented “make a song about toxic friends plzzzx,” and the response was the song “Toxic.” The song describes how it feels when you realize all your friends are terrible people (people you’d probably be better off without), but the thought of being alone makes you feel even worse. The song has taken over the Spotify charts: hitting Top 10 and Top 15 on the Global & U.S. Spotify Viral Chart, Top 20 on Global Spotify Chart, and peaking at over 2 million streams per day. The song follows his previous full-length projects Melatonin Dreams, Fever Dreams, Trouvaille EP, and his latest Faded EP (featuring numerous songs created from his TikTok “minute long songs” project). We don’t know much about BoyWithUke yet, but we do know he’s an artist everyone is talking about.
With “Own Brand Freestyle” already surpassing 65 million combined global streams and topping Spotify’s Viral charts in the U.K., Australia, and Canada while charting in 62 countries total, it’s clear Dreya Mac and FelixThe1st have a gift for creating memorable, addictive songs. Now they’ve reimagined the track, shining a spotlight on Dreya’s verse and transforming it into the chorus. The two artists have paved a lane of their own with crisp flows, cheeky punch lines, and undeniable talent. Download/stream “Own Brand (Baddie),” which was released by Capitol Records, HERE.
The official video for “Own Brand (Baddie)” captures the two artists in their element and accompanied by a troupe of dancers. As the camera jumps from Dreya to Felix as they swap bars, viewers are transported to a variety of hyper-stylized mini-worlds. Think “West Side Story” meets Busta Rhymes’ “Gimme Some More” video meets the global viral dance moment that is happening around “Own Brand Freestyle,” thanks to a dance created by Dreya. Watch for cameos from the likes of Tennessee Thresher and others in the video. Charlie Di Placido (Jungle, Kojey Radical) directed and Ysabelle Capitule (Mya, Usher, Bruno Mars) served as choreographer. Watch HERE.
Brit school graduate and West London native Dreya originally fell in love with music as a medium for movement. She studied dance from the age of 14, later cutting her teeth as a choreographer. She also danced for many artists, including Dua Lipa, Rita Ora, and Stormzy. Her talents landed her a leading role in the seminal “Vossi Bop”—one of the only women to feature on the project.
She released her debut single, “Skippin,” and the accompanying self-directed video in 2020, leading NPRto note, “Dreya Mac spits bars at a level far beyond a novice.” Dreya and Felix unleashed “Own Brand Freestyle” in late 2021 and quickly earned a nod from Pitchfork, airplay across BBC Radio 1, and a spot in the top 10 of Billboard‘s Song Breaker chart. The track became the #1 Sound on TikTok and has gone on to inspire over 15 million video creations with a staggering 20+ billion views combined on the platform. YouTube selected “Own Brand Freestyle” as their “Artist on the Rise” trending pick.
Naming Dreya as one of “The 22 Musicians Set to Rule 2022,” British Vogue hailed her as “an electrifying live performer with magnetic flow.” NMEsaid, “Dreya is a funny, androgynous beacon of joy.” COMPLEX UKobserved, “Merging her powerful raps with R&B-tinged vocals, Dreya Mac is bringing a refreshing energy to UK rap’s table, and we’re all ready for her to dish up more.”
“Lineage for a Phantom Zone marks an important milestone in Rolls-Royce’s creative history. The newly commissioned work by artist Sondra Perry, sees Muse, the Rolls-Royce Art Programme’s inaugural award, the Dream Commission, come to fruition. Initiated to advance the medium of moving image art, the Dream Commission has consisted of a two-year process during which leading lights of the artistic world selected Sondra Perry to create an entirely new work. I am pleased to confirm this work will be shown at the prestigious Fondation Beyeler in Switzerland, before travelling to Serpentine, London. On behalf of Rolls-Royce, I congratulate Sondra Perry on this exciting commission, and we look forward to sharing her installation this year.”
Chief Executive Officer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Torsten Müller-Ötvös.
American artist Sondra Perry joins forces with the Rolls-Royce Art Programme Muse to produce the immersive experience known as Lineage for a Phantom Zone. The program was shaped in support of the Dream Commission, and will open for one full month from February 13 to March 13 at Foundation Beyeler, Switzerland.
One of the most powerful mediums in art today is moving image art. This new program promises to embrace and highlight nothing but that, with film, animation, artificial intelligence and virtual reality pieces incorporated throughout the course. The emergence of social media combined with the affects of the COVID-19 pandemic have altered our world as we knew it, pushing for the rise of the digital age.
In support of the Dream Commission, Rolls-Royce aims to back developing artists in the field of art creation. The establishment of this new platform of moving image artwork expands the realm that we previously knew. With constant visualization of revolutionizing technical and conceptual boundaries, Rolls-Royce fulfills this through their exploration in cooperation with the Dream Commission.
May 2021 Dream Commission winner Sondra Perry works as a moving medium artist specializing in pieces relating to the topics of race, identity and technology. Perry received this honor out of a limited four differing artists in the same field, chosen by a Jury of modern-day art figures. Lineage for a PhantomZone navigates through Perry’s journey of life highlighting the importance of dreaming. The philosophies of memory, lineage and longing are touched as well, explored through sensory elements that induce the physical, emotional and mental feelings of dreaming.
The 2022 inaugural Dream Commission was made possible through cooperation with Fondation Beyeler, Basel and Serpentine, London.
Los Angeles’ longest-running art show returned Wednesday evening, January 23rd. The exhibition was held at the Los Angeles Convention center in the heart of Downtown LA. Immediately upon entering the venue, patrons were presented with a red carpet walkway leading to the south hall ballroom that featured work from numerous artists from around the world. Installations from Takashi Murakami to Banksy were all at arm’s-length available to purchase.
Venturing off to the back area of the hall guests were greeted by various vendors from DogHAUS to BuzzPop sampling their products. The event also had countless stands offering premium open bar services for the attendees. In addition, there was a lounge with embellished furniture and two champagne bars for VIP attendees.
This 2022 exposition has also integrated cutting-edge forms of digital media such as NFTs to create a depiction of emotional and alluring experience for the audience. Johnny “KMNDZ” was one of the many artists breaking barriers of digital art with a collection of nearly 900 exclusive NFTs that premiered at the LA Art Show.
A crowd favorite was a portrayal of The Joker and Batman in a boxing ring. In true artistic irony, Batman was beaten and confused with The Joker standing over him being the clear winner. It was a distasteful paradox showing that bad guys sometimes do end up winning.
To top it off, the Off-White model and notably recognized international actress Kaia Gerber was the official host of the 2022 premiere party. As one of the largest international art fairs in the U.S. this occasion was the perfect place to view prominent artists and their work across a number of verticals including paintings, prints, sculptures and NFTs.
About the LA Art Show
The LA Art Show creates one of the largest international art fairs in the United States, providing an exciting, immersive, insider art experience to sponsors, their select guests and VIP clients. The show attracts an elite roster of national and international galleries, acclaimed artists, highly regarded curators, architects, design professionals, along with discerning collectors. This innovative, exceptional cultural environment attracts executives and board members of Southern California businesses, state, county, and municipal government representatives, as well as leaders of the region’s cultural institutions. Attendees are trendsetters, influencers and alpha consumers, who seek and demand the newest and the best in all areas of their lives—art, design, food, technology and travel being specific passion points.
Since 2015, LA Art Show has been a strong and unwavering supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® as it leads the way the world understands, treats, and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. In 2022, St. Jude returned as the beneficiary with the LA Art Show donating 15% of all ticket proceeds to its life saving mission. The LA Art Show is proud to bring together St. Jude and the art community.
