Page 1417 – That Eric Alper

Rising Folk/Roots Group Aruna & the Sirens Release “Have You Seen My Sister?”

Music

Eric Alper

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Apr 10, 2023

Rising Folk/Roots Group Aruna & the Sirens Release “Have You Seen My Sister?”

Responding to what the UN dubbed the “Shadow Pandemic,” Bath, Ontario-based band Aruna & the Sirens have released an anthem calling attention to the global surge in gender-based violence.

“Have You Seen My Sister?” starts strong with powerhouse vocals from songwriter Aruna Antonella Handa with harmonies by band members Alejandra Ballon, Caitlin Holland, and Lindsay McDonald. The song’s first line is a call to action: Won’t you remind me to wonder who’s missing from the corridors of privilege?”

Aruna & The Sirens is an acoustic band with original songs spanning genres including folk, classical and jazz. The band has performed at clubs such as the Monarch and the Burdock in Toronto and has made appearances at festivals including Nuit Blanche, Canadian Music Week and Open Tuning. They plan to release their first LP in the coming months.

Handa’s vocals are reminiscent of Tracy Chapman and Janis Joplin, while the Sirens’ voices lift the sound with soaring harmonies. The band asks the listener to consider the relationship between a lack of power and disproportionate representation in incidents of violence.

The track transitions as the vocals and other instruments drop out, allowing the cello played by Grammy nominated Dave Eggar to take the spotlight, creating a sense of wind and motion. This shift in tone suits the lyrics of the final part of the track, as the song reminds listeners of the various roles women play in our lives and how profound that loss can be.

Accompanying the vocals is the band’s rhythm section with Raphael Roter on drums and Chris Adriaanse on upright bass. In addition to Tennessee based Eggar on cello, among the many guest artists are Ontario-based Doug Tielli on acoustic guitar and Boston-based Antje Duvekot providing further vocals.

The track is a collaborative effort with contributions of artists from the US, Mexico, and Canada. In 2020, when Handa read about the Shadow Pandemic, fueled by increased alcohol consumption and people trapped in lockdown with their aggressors, she reached out to New York-based friend and producer David Seitz, whose credits include work with Moby, Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen.

At that time, Handa and Seitz were working on the band’s debut full length record, and they discussed the possibility of creating a socially distanced, collaborative recording of selections from Handa’s song cycle “Have You Seen My Sister.” The project was partially funded by a grant from FACTOR Canada.

Keisha Christian To Launch New Album 360 Love Live at El Mocambo

Music

Eric Alper

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Apr 10, 2023

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Keisha Christian To Launch New Album 360 Love Live at El Mocambo

Love is simultaneously simple and highly complex, and Barbadian soul/R&B artist Keisha Christian takes us on a journey through its highs, lows, and intricacies on her new album 360 Love. The album gets a Canafian launch on Friday, April 14 at Toronto’s El Mocambo with the show starting at 7:30pm.

Available for purchase and streaming on all major platforms on April 14th, 360 Love showcases Christian’s smooth and soulful vocals over a perfect blend of R&B and jazz that shapeshifts into breezy grooves, stormy ballads, and bouncy anthems. It’s at varying points romantic, solemn, and funky – and sometimes even chill and lounge-y. In short, 360 Love’s 12 tracks are guaranteed to take the listener on a winding adventure of love, intimacy, heartbreak and, ultimately, self-discovery.

With soaring vocals and introspective guitar fingerpicking, the pensive “Before I Go” begins 360 Love’s journey with heartbreak. Christian’s voice swells with emotion, as the guitar guides us through the sadness, the grief, and the tragic loss of passion. The lyrics are imagined as a letter to a lost lover, a final goodbye.

The next track, “Love Is,” gives us an easy groove and a meditation on just what exactly love is – concluding that, actually, it’s never easy. Then, “Bésame Mucho” provides a stormy, dramatic, gray-sky cover of the timeless classic. “Tunnel” furthers the themes of darkness and rain, only to let the light break through with its uplifting harmonies and billowing instrumentation.

“You Got To Go” shifts the tone again, and Christian’s playful rap-sing infuses the album with sass and attitude – “I ain’t gonna play no more/ Boy I gotta let you go.” Then, she takes a soulful turn on “Only So Much,” where she lays down a line in the sand: “There’s only so much that a girl can take.” On the piano ballad “Having My Heart Broken By You,” she adopts a vocal pluckiness that assures us she’ll get through this, only because she’s able to see the breakup maturely and philosophically.

The next track, “Who Was I Tonight,” looks back on an evening of love in its in early bloom, capturing the electricity and giddy uncertainty. Meanwhile, “Never A Failure” is a bouncy anthem of self-love and self-assurance.

“Here We Go Again” is groovy and gliding, capturing a ’70s sunniness and a complete lack of burden. In contrast, “It’s Okay” starts with the admission “Today I cried” as the narrator proceeds to talk herself out of gloom amid wailing electric guitar and subtle harmonies. The album ends on the sensual groove of “I Love You,” a celebration of two lovers enjoying each other, every sense heightened by the intoxication of love.

“I’ve poured my heart and soul into this album, and I can’t wait for my fans to hear it,” Christian says. “I hope it inspires them, makes them feel something special, and ultimately, brings them a sense of joy and fulfillment.”

Over Half A Billion Streams Propels The Tragically Hip’s ‘Yer Favourites’ To Diamond Certification Status

Music

Eric Alper

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Apr 10, 2023

0

Over Half A Billion Streams Propels The Tragically Hip’s ‘Yer Favourites’ To Diamond Certification Status

The Tragically Hip’s best-selling greatest hits compilation, Yer Favourites, will be available on vinyl for the first time ever on June 2. Originally released digitally and as a two-CD set on November 8, 2005, Yer Favourites, for which tracks were selected by the band’s fans directly via their website, has soared past Diamond status at 14X Platinum (Diamond is 10X Platinum) and has over half a billion streams globally. The Tragically Hip is now the first Canadian band to achieve four Diamond-certified albums. Yer Favourites is the second best-selling compilation album ever in Canada only behind The Beatles’ 1.

As a nod to fans for their continued support and in the lead-up to the band’s fast-approaching 40^th anniversary in 2024, the Yer Favourites vinyl release will be split into two double LP sets on 180g vinyl, Volume #1 and Volume #2, each packaged in a single sleeve in an effort to reduce packaging and make the release more affordable for fans. Yer Favourites has been entirely remastered for 2023 and now includes the original versions from Fully Completely that were not found on the CD version of Yer Favourites released in 2005. This special vinyl release is a must-have for any new or long-time listener of The Tragically Hip. Each volume also includes a 24 x 36 fold-out poster.

The Yer Favourites vinyl release is set to be followed by a deluxe edition of Phantom Power later this year. In 2024, to celebrate four decades of The Tragically Hip, the band will release a deluxe set of their breakthrough album Up to Here, a previously announced four-part Amazon documentary, and much more.

In 2021, The Tragically Hip received the Humanitarian Award Presented by Music Canada at the 50th annual JUNO Awards; and in 2022, they were inducted into Canada’s Walk Of Fame for Humanitarianism in pursuit of social and environmental justice. They had previously received a star on the Walk Of Fame in 2002 for Arts & Entertainment. For more than three decades, The Tragically Hip’s tireless activism and philanthropic pursuits have raised millions of dollars for multiple social and environmental causes, such as Camp Trillium, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Sunnybrook Foundation, WAR Child, the Special Olympics, and the Unison Benevolent Fund. A quintessential band whose music captures the essence of being Canadian, they used their enormous megaphone in 2016 to spotlight the country’s systemic mistreatment of indigenous peoples. The legacy of the band’s frontman, the late Gord Downie, continues with The Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund, which aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

Yer Favourites Vinyl 2LP Volume #1 Track Listing:

LP1 – Side A

No Threat
Grace Too
Music At Work
38 Years Old
Gift Shop

LP1 – Side B

Ahead By Century
Vaccination Scar
Three Pistols
So Hard Done By
Fiddler’s Green

LP2 – Side A

Looking For A Place To Happen
Cordelia
It’s A Good Life If You Don’t Weaken
Blow at High Dough
Wheat Kings

LP2 – Side B

Fully Completely
New Orleans Is Sinking
Escape Is At Hand For the Travellin’ Man
Fifty Mission Cap

Yer Favourites Vinyl 2LP Volume #2 Track Listing:

LP1 – Side A

Courage (For Hugh MacLennan)
Lake Fever
Poets
Fireworks
Twist My Arm

LP1 – Side B

Bobcaygeon
Nautical Disaster
Highway Girl
Gus: The Polar Bear From Central Park

LP2 – Side A

At The Hundredth Meridian
Long Time Running
The Darkest One
Locked In The Trunk of A Car

LP2 – Side B

Little Bones
Boots Or Hearts
Scared
Something On
The New Maybe

Make Music Day Returns June 21 in Worldwide Celebration of Music

Music

Eric Alper

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Apr 10, 2023

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Make Music Day Returns June 21 in Worldwide Celebration of Music

Make Music Day, the worldwide festival of making music held annually on the summer solstice, today announced the return of its vast program with over 4,000 live, free music-making events across the United States on Wednesday, June 21.

Launched in France in 1982 as the Fête de la Musique, Make Music Day has become a global phenomenon, celebrated by hundreds of millions of people in more than 1,000 cities around the world, including 120 cities in the U.S., where it has spread quickly after debuting in New York in 2007. Held on the longest day of the year, the world’s largest annual music event celebrates and promotes the natural music maker in everyone, regardless of age or skill level.

Last year, 104 U.S. cities organized 3,819 free Make Music events on June 21, with more than 100 concerts each in Cincinnati, Kansas City, Madison, New York, and Salem (OR). This year, Albany, Ann Arbor, Fresno, Indianapolis, Raleigh, and Tulsa are celebrating their inaugural Make Music Days, while Boston, Detroit, Huntsville, and San Diego return for the first time since the pandemic. Over 120 cities are active, and well over 4,000 events are planned around the country, including statewide celebrations across Alabama, Connecticut, Hawaii, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

Completely different from a traditional music festival, Make Music Day activities are free and open to anyone wanting to participate. Reimagining their cities and towns as stages, every kind of musician – young and old, amateur, and professional, of every musical persuasion – fills streets, parks, plazas, porches, rooftops, gardens, and other public spaces to celebrate, create and share their music with friends, neighbors, and strangers.

Showing just how participatory Make Music Day can be, Stridulations by composer and percussionist Billy Martin (Medeski Martin & Wood), a suite of interlocking rhythmic compositions that anyone can join, will be a new June 21 highlight this year in dozens of cities, including New York City, where Martin will conduct a performance for percussionists and vocalists at Little Island on the West Side of Manhattan. (The name “Stridulations” refers to the sound of crickets, a species that makes music collectively.)

Uniting the piano community, another new project called Roomful of Pianos will bring together hundreds of pianists of different levels to perform music by W.A. Mozart, William Bolcom, and others arranged for ten pianos or more. Piano showrooms and music schools in Austin, Duluth (GA), Fresno, Houston, and New York City have signed on to host these colossal piano events, which grow out of an annual project organized since 2018 at The NAMM Show in Anaheim, CA.

And in a new global highlight, Make Music, Make Friends will connect school children aged 7-13 from Australia, China, Italy, Thailand, the U.K., and the U.S. on Make Music Day. Ten classes from each country will create a musical greeting video, share it with schools from different countries, and have their students watch the musical messages on June 21 to expose them to different regions and cultures.

Other national highlights of Make Music Day 2023 will include:

Flowerpot Music – For the fourth year, participants around the country will be invited to perform a composition by celebrated composer Elliot Cole and directed by percussionist Peter Ferry using an unlikely but beautiful percussion instrument: the flowerpot. Appropriate for musicians and non-musicians alike, participants can join a group and create outdoor soundscapes through easy-to-learn games.

Mass Appeal – People of all ages and skill levels will band together to make music in large, single-instrument groups. This year, leading music brands such as Alfred Music, Hohner, Rhythm Band Instruments, and Vic Firth are donating thousands of free instruments so that any member of the public can stop by these events and join the band.

#MySongIsYourSong – Songwriters and composers of all styles and walks of life will join in a global song swap where they’ll learn a song by another artist and hear theirs covered in return.

Sousapalooza – In multiple cities, including Chicago, Lansing (MI), and New York, large groups of brass and wind musicians will assemble in parks and plazas to play the music of “March King” John Philip Sousa. Anyone is invited to download the music, bring their horn, and join the band.

City-specific highlights around the U.S. will include:

Boston (MA) – an “Ultimate Jam Session” on the Rose Kennedy Greenway will feature a live funk band and opportunities for audience members to drum along with the band on buckets and percussion instruments.
Federal Way (WA) – Federal Way City Councilmember Jack Walsh will sing a solo outside his shop, Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream, at 10:00 a.m.
Frisco (TX) – the Frisco Athletic Center hosts a kazoo parade for anyone who wants to join, led by 85 of their Camp Lay Frisco campers and counselors.
Kansas City (MO) – a host of musicians will welcome travelers who are coming and going at the recently opened 40-gate terminal at Kansas City International Airport.
Marshfield (WI) – an old-time music sing-along for senior community members will follow lunch at the 2^nd St Community Center.
Raleigh (NC) – the City of Raleigh Museum will host an Instrument Zoo with the NC Symphony, a harmonica workshop, and a strum-along with the Raleigh Uke Jam.
San Jose (CA) – musical performances will take place at sunset under the pool of moving lights and sounds of Sonic Runway, a light-art installation in front of San Jose City Hall.
York County (PA) – an experimental performance by Nodding Onion features musicians improvising along with the natural sounds of plants.

All Make Music Day events are free and open to the public. Participants who wish to perform, or host musical events, may register at www.makemusicday.org. A full schedule of events will be posted on the website in early June.

Avril Lavigne Announces Partnership with Ready-to-Drink Cocktail Brand BeatBox

Music

Eric Alper

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Apr 10, 2023

0

Today, eight-time GRAMMY Award-nominated, multi-platinum singer, songwriter, designer, and philanthropist Avril Lavigne has announced her first ever alcohol partnership with ready-to-drink cocktail brand BeatBox, The World’s Tastiest Party Punch. Avril’s 11.1% ABV Pink Lemonade special edition package will be available at tens of thousands of locations nationwide, including 7-Eleven, Kroger, Circle K, Casey’s, QuikTrip, and many other valued chain and independent retailers.

BeatBox’s partnership with Avril is the latest in their wider “Creator Series.” The BeatBox Creator Series partners the rapidly growing ready-to-drink cocktail brand with globally recognized tastemakers to create exclusive, uniquely designed flavors and packaging that are distributed through the brand’s large retail network.

“From the moment Avril told our team how she drinks a BeatBox before every studio session we knew this was a perfect fit for our growing Creator Series. The BeatBox Creator Series is where we partner with world renowned musicians like Avril Lavigne, as well as other large influencers and brands, to bring exciting new flavors and collectible packaging to our 45,000+ retail locations,” says Zech Francis, VP of Global Marketing for BeatBox. “Partnering with Avril is going to unlock even more exciting opportunities for BeatBox as one of the fastest growing ready-to-drink cocktail brands in the US.”

Consumers across the country will have access to enter to win exclusive signed Avril Lavigne merchandise from their favorite retailers. Retail activations will also include custom Avril displays, lifesize Avril Lavigne cutouts, and a national sweepstakes to meet Avril in person.

“We are excited to bring this unique partnership to life in retail stores across the nation. Introducing Avril’s special edition packaging with our already popular Pink Lemonade flavor is an amazing opportunity to introduce BeatBox to Avril’s 100+ million fans!” says Zech Francis, VP of Global Marketing for BeatBox.

Avril’s continued fame and success show no signs of slowing down, with over 100 million social media followers to-date, 8 Grammy nods, and 6 World Music Awards.

“The partnership with BeatBox felt right from the start – I have never come across a brand that was as committed to providing their fans with a truly memorable experience, specifically pegged to music, than the BeatBox Team,” said Avril Lavigne. Lavigne continues, “Every facet of the collaboration, down to my involvement with the design of the package itself, felt authentic and true to me. I am excited for people to see the new packaging, and let us know what you think!”

BeatBox Beverages, one of the fastest growing RTD brands of 2022, is currently available in more than 45,000 retail locations. The brand is the fastest growing alcoholic beverage brand on social media and reached over 6 million customers at festivals and events to date in 2022, with 100+ music festivals and events planned in 2023.

Music Entrepreneur Adrian L. Miller On Music Supervising Season Three Of Hulu Series Wu-Tang: An American Saga

Music

Eric Alper

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Apr 10, 2023

0

Music Entrepreneur Adrian L. Miller On Music Supervising Season Three Of Hulu Series Wu-Tang: An American Saga

cclaimed music entrepreneur Adrian L. Miller is serving as the Music Supervisor for season three of the Hulu series Wu-Tang: An American Saga. Created by Wu-Tang Clan member RZA and screenwriter Alex Tse, it’s a biographical drama about the formation of the Wu-Tang Clan that’s currently streaming its third and final season on Hulu.

Miller curated the soundtrack to be representative of real-world events going on at the time. “I purposely sourced music that was part of our daily living soundtrack during this era,” says Miller, “This music is our legacy – and an additional character in each episode.”

Alex Tse adds, “We’ve always felt Adrian was part of the family. It was nice to make that official this season.” Method Man says of Miller, “A one since day one.”

For Adrian, this was a trip down memory lane and a thrilling opportunity “to actually see the RZA’s vision for each track. It’s not often we get a chance to use songs that artists have created, while showing the inspiration and engineering that accompanies each song’s production. It’s exciting to see that come full circle. There will never be another Wu-Tang Clan, and the music is just reestablished all over again…”

Among Miller’s other music supervision duties include Friday, Waist Deep, Cut Throat City, and Judgment Night.

Miller is one of the most influential music executives and business strategists in entertainment. He is the founder of his management company Xyion Inc., and co-owner of record labels including OBE, Delicious Vinyl Island, and A Tiny Universe (with Grammy-winning producer Om’Mas Keith). During his career he’s helped develop several artists’ careers including Flo Rida, Cypress Hill, Ice Cube, Outkast, and has managed and produced Grammy award-winner Anderson .Paak.

Adrian Miller’s mantra of “always looking for the perfect beat” follows him through all of his endeavors, both now and into the future.

Global Citizen Now Returns With A New Agenda For Urgent Action

Music

Eric Alper

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Apr 10, 2023

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he world’s leading international advocacy organization Global Citizen today announced details of the second annual Global Citizen NOW summit, setting a global agenda for action on the most urgent issues facing humanity and the planet. Taking place in New York City on April 27 and 28, Global Citizen NOW will convene government leaders, private sector executives, grassroots activists, cultural innovators, philanthropic experts, and leading journalists for a dynamic two-day event.

Every Global Citizen NOW session will feature definitive next steps for participants, attendees, and global citizens to take immediate action on urgent issues including climate change, the global food crisis, gender inequality, protecting activists, and more. The program will feature major announcements on policy initiatives, intimate conversations with renowned artists, as well as corporate and world leaders. Various sessions will be livestreamed on Instagram and LinkedIn.

For the first time this year, global citizens around the world can contribute perspectives and questions for potential inclusion in Global Citizen NOW programming by downloading the Global Citizen app, visiting globalcitizen.org/message, or texting via WhatsApp on +27 63 534 5148.

Taking place at The Glasshouse in New York City, Global Citizen NOW is supported by Global Partners Accenture, Cisco, Citi, Delta Air Lines, Harith General Partners, P&G and Verizon, and Associate Partners Authentic Brands Group and Impossible Foods.

“The last few years have had a disproportionately harsh impact on the world’s poor. To redirect that trajectory we need to convene political, business, and cultural leaders and take action together,” said Hugh Evans, Co-Founder and CEO, Global Citizen. “Every session at Global Citizen NOW will drive impact with practical actions everyone can take. World leaders will hear from young climate activists, corporations will make new policy commitments, we’ll announce new ways everyone can take action in their daily lives, and we’ll launch our new campaign to mobilize billions to address the interconnected issues holding people in extreme poverty.”

“Multilateral action needs a reboot and we need to make sure the global financial system is fit for purpose: the fight against extreme poverty and against climate change. Global Citizen NOW is an important opportunity to advance the debate and will help pave the way to a New Global Financing Pact to be agreed in Paris in June,” said Emmanuel Macron, President of France.

“To fight climate change, end hunger and empower girls and women, the world needs our leadership; we all have the duty to act NOW,” said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.

“The world is at a critical crossroads, and it is imperative that we act NOW to save our planet, address the climate crisis, ease the burdens crushing economies, and alleviate the suffering of the world’s most vulnerable people,” said Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados. “I am thrilled to be part of Global Citizen NOW, which is assembling global change-makers, listening to young people and grassroots activists, and driving an agenda of urgent action the world desperately needs.”

“Global Citizen NOW is an important opportunity for the voices of young people and global citizens everywhere to be heard by those in power, and for all of us, together, to find solutions that will shape our world for future generations,” said Hugh Jackman, Global Citizen Ambassador.

Showcasing the power of cross-sector participation to make progress on the systemic challenges our world is facing, Global Citizen NOW is convening the brightest minds, global decision makers, and the biggest names in pop culture with a diverse program of sessions and speakers, including:

Power Our Planet
Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados; Vanessa Nakate, Ugandan Climate Justice Activist, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and Author of ‘A Bigger Picture’; Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission; Dr. Rajiv Shah, President, Rockefeller Foundation
How Ideas Become Impact
Sabrina Elba, United Nations IFAD Goodwill Ambassador; Hugh Jackman, Global Citizen Ambassador; Hugh Evans, Co-Founder & CEO, Global Citizen
New York Attorney General Letitia James in conversation with two time Emmy Award-winning Journalist and Author Tamron Hall
The “Good Life”
Portia Blunt, Vice President, Global Apparel, Reebok; Ebro Darden, Global Editorial Head of Hip-Hop and R&B, Apple Music, and Host, HOT 97; Nicole LaPointe Jameson, CEO, Evil Geniuses; Jordan Fisher, Producer, Actor, Gamer; Gary Vaynerchuk, Chairman, VaynerX, and CEO, VaynerMedia

Further programming details to be announced over the coming weeks.

Other participants include: Anjula Acharia, Founder & CEO, A-Series Management; Nat Kwabena Adisi (Bola Ray), CEO, EIB Network Ltd. and Chairman, Empire Group; Maggie Baird, Founder and President, Support + Feed; Nir Bar Dea, CEO, Bridgewater Associates; Helder Barbalho, Governor of the Amazonic State of Pará, Brazil; David Droga, CEO, Accenture Song; Pamela Fletcher, Chief Sustainability Officer, Delta Air Lines; Dorothy Fortenberry, Executive Producer, “Extrapolations”; Michael Gandolfini; Phoebe Gates, Women’s Health & Reproductive Rights Activist; C.D. Glin, President, PepsiCo Foundation; Dr. Patrick Gruber, CEO, Gevo; Prabal Gurung, Creative Director and Fashion Designer; Katie Holmes; Daniel Humm, Chef and Owner, Eleven Madison Park and Eleven Madison Home; Fran Katsoudas, EVP and Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer, Cisco; Alvaro Lario, President, International Fund for Agricultural Development; Stefan Löfven, Former Prime Minister of Sweden; Emmanuel Macron, President of France; Tshepo Mahloele, Founder & Chairman, Harith General Partners; Mark Malloch-Brown, President, Open Society Foundations; Chris Martin, International Global Citizen Festival Curator; Peter McGuinness, President & CEO, Impossible Foods; Catherine McKenna, Chair of the UN High-Level Expert Group on Net-Zero; Bridget Moynahan, Global Citizen Ambassador; Antonio Nuño, CEO, Someone Somewhere; Marc Pritchard, Chief Brand Officer, P&G; Diego Scotti, Chief Marketing Officer, Verizon; Amanda Seales, Comedian and Social Justice Advocate; Dr. Rajiv Shah, President, The Rockefeller Foundation; Alok Sharma, COP26 President and Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom; Yasmine Sherif, Executive Director, Education Cannot Wait; Edward Skyler, Executive Vice President, Citi; Erna Solberg, Former Prime Minister of Norway; Abena Soreno, Founder, GOALSFORFLOW; Darren Walker, President, Ford Foundation; Caroline Wanga, President & CEO, Essence Ventures; and Elizabeth Wathuti, Kenyan Climate Activist and Founder, Green Generation Initiative.

The pinnacle of the summit will be the annual Global Citizen Prize 2023 award ceremony on Thursday evening, honoring four trailblazing activists profoundly impacting their local communities in the areas of climate change, civic space, sexual health and reproductive health, and food security, as well as the recipient of the Cisco Youth Leadership Award, a young person positively impacting the world using technology innovation. Winners will be announced in the coming weeks. Proud partners of the Global Citizen Prize 2023 include Cisco, Citi and P&G.

Global Citizen NOW is co-chaired by International Global Citizen Festival Curator Chris Martin and Global Citizen Ambassador Hugh Jackman; political leaders Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission; Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados; Nana Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana; Erna Solberg, former Prime Minister of Norway; and Stefan Löfven, former Prime Minister of Sweden; corporate sector leaders Hans Vestberg, Chairman & CEO, Verizon; Nir Bar Dea, CEO, Bridgewater Associates; Fran Katsoudas, EVP and Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer, Cisco; Chris Stadler, Managing Partner, CVC Capital Partners; Marc Pritchard, Chief Brand Officer, P&G; Diego Scotti, EVP, Chief Marketing Officer, Verizon; Tshepo Mahloele, Founder & Chairman of Harith General Partners; and Edward Skyler, Executive Vice President, Citi; and philanthropic sector leaders Dr. Rajiv Shah, President, Rockefeller Foundation; Mark Malloch-Brown, President, Open Society Foundations; and Darren Walker, President, Ford Foundation.

Global Citizen NOW is grateful for the support of leading media companies across the world including: ABC, AIM Group, Arena Holdings, Bella Naija, Bloomberg, EIB Network, Vanguard Media, Wall Street Journal and Zikoko.

To learn more about Global Citizen NOW visit www.globalcitizen.org/now23.

You Can Now Build Your Own Fender Stratocaster With Lego

Music

Eric Alper

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Apr 9, 2023

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You Can Now Build Your Own Fender Stratocaster With Lego

Create your own brick-built 1970s Fender Stratocaster guitar and 65 Princeton Reverb amplifier with this LEGO Ideas DIY guitar set for adults (21329). Recall the legendary musicians who have played a Stratocaster as you recreate its iconic curves and add authentic details such as the posable whammy bar, pickup switch and tuning pegs. The buildable amp has removable panels for easy viewing of the motherboard, reverb tank, speaker and other interior details, plus rubber cables to connect it to the guitar and footswitch. This collectible set includes bricks to build the guitar in either red or black and guitar accessories: picks in 4 colors plus an elegant, foldable stand for the guitar model to complete a delightful display piece. There is also a sticker with the Fender logo made from LEGO bricks to attach to your real guitar or amp. This collectible DIY guitar kit is a top birthday present or gift idea for teenagers and adult guitar players, Fender fans, music lovers and keen LEGO builders. A fan designer entered this cool building set in the LEGO Ideas ‘Music to our Ears’ contest and was chosen from the top 9 entries to become the next LEGO Ideas set by the LEGO Ideas review board. It sure will make a striking centerpiece at home or in the office. The guitar measures over 14 in. (36 cm) long, 4 in. (11 cm) wide, and 1 in. (3 cm) deep. Contains 1074 pieces.

You can get it here.

My Neat Read: “George Michael: A Life” by James Gavin

Music

Eric Alper

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Apr 9, 2023

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My Neat Read: “George Michael: A Life” by James Gavin

The definitive biography of George Michael, offering an expansive look at the troubled life of the legendary singer, songwriter, and pop superstar.

George Michael was an extravagantly gifted, openhearted soul singer whose work was both pained and smolderingly erotic. He was a songwriter of true craft and substance, and his music swept the world, starting in the mid-1980s. His fabricated image—that of a hypermacho sex god—loomed large in the pop culture of his day. It also hid—for a time—the secret he fought against revealing: Michael was gay. Soon his obsession with fame would start to backfire. As one of the industry’s most privileged yet tortured men began to self-destruct, the press showed little sympathy. George Michael: A Life explores the compelling story of a superstar whose struggles, as well as his songs, continue to touch fans all over the world.

Acclaimed music biographer James Gavin traces Michael’s metamorphosis from the shy and awkward Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou into the swaggering, dominant half of the leading British pop duo of the 1980s Wham!; he then details Michael’s sensational solo career and its subsequent unraveling. With deep analysis of the creative process behind Michael’s albums, tours, and music videos, as well as interviews with hundreds of his friends and colleagues, George Michael: A Life is a probing, definitive portrait of a pop legend.

Folk Rocker Aaron Wylder Releases “Don’t Let Me Down”

Music

Eric Alper

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Apr 8, 2023

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Folk Rocker Aaron Wylder Releases “Don’t Let Me Down”

You’ve got to love what you do and draw inspiration from whatever drives you to be the best you can be. The love and passion for music and the art of songwriting is clearly defined by the brilliant indie-folk rock star, Aaron Wylder on his newly released single, “Don’t Let Me Down.”

The Cayman Island-born, Victoria, BC-based indie-folk sensation has once again blessed our ears with this new soulful and raw introspective track that can be heard on the just-released Adventure Songs EP.

The song kicks off with a poetic and acoustic melody that instantly puts you in an upbeat mood as the soothing sound of Wyler’s voice guides you on a musical journey. “I’m looking for the sun to shine. I’m looking for words to rhyme. Oh don’t let me down. Some days I feel like. Only way that I’ll survive. Is with a guitar in hand.”

Wylder can be heard in the first verse referencing his desire for the sun to shine and for words to rhyme, searching for positivity and creativity. The title phrase, “don’t let me down” emphasizes the importance of achieving these goals and not losing hope.

“This song describes my animalistic passion and competitive drive to be a truly successful singer-songwriter,” says Wylder. “It is me saying, hey world, I may not be this or that, but this is who I am.”

With the steady strumming beat of acoustic guitar setting the tone throughout the track, Wylder sings about his love for rock ‘n roll and creating meaningful music. “Cause I’m just a boy. From a sandy island. But I love rock ‘n roll. And I sing from my soul”, paying homage to his proud Cayman Island roots and his passion for his music.

The authentic and nostalgic singer and songwriter go on to add, “This song is me presenting myself to the world and making a statement that I have arrived.”

Wylder shares his struggles, facing all kinds of different challenges but he uses music as a coping mechanism, putting him in his comfort zone with a guitar and pen in hand. Making music is how he expresses his emotions, and he uses those words as a way of encouragement to continue writing and making soulful and honest music.

“I learnt to sing along.
To the beat of my lonely heart.
I don’t mess around.
I learnt to read and write.
To the beat of my lonely fight.
I won’t hit the ground.”

The 25-year-old Canadian singer/songwriter’s new EP, Adventure Songs, builds on his blend of indie folk and Americana. “I try to write what I hear in my head and what I feel in my chest,” says Wylder. “It’s a damn cool thing to write a song that you love and speaks to others as well. If I’m able to make music that I enjoy and people enjoy it too then I’ll die a happy man.”