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Alan Doyle Leads An All-Star Lineup Of Newfoundland Artists For New EP “Songs From Home”

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Five of Newfoundland’s most cherished artists braced for the challenge of creating music together during this year’s worldwide health crisis. The result: a six-song EP due out November 13 titled SONGS FROM HOME, – a collection of music from Alan Doyle, The Once, The Ennis Sisters, Fortunate Ones and Rachel Cousins.

The first single, “It’s OK,” features all five artists reimagining a song from Doyle’s EP Rough Side Out, released earlier this year. “It’s OK” perfectly captures the spirit of the time we are living in and the essence of this project, and will be out October 30.

For the first time in many years, Doyle found himself at home, with no live shows on his calendar for the foreseeable future. This was an opportunity he did not want to waste and reached out some of his fellow Newfoundland artists to see if they wanted to record together. They all worked from their own homes, only seeing each other in person during the socially-distant recording session for “It’s OK.”

“It’s really all about making and keeping connections at a time when it was so difficult to be connected,” said Doyle. “It was such a feeling of closeness to be working on something together even though together was what we certainly could not be when this whole thing started.”

Celebrating the release of Songs From Home, Doyle will livestream two of his four upcoming sold out performances from The Public House at YellowBelly Brewery in St. John’s, Newfoundland, on Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. AT. Accompanied nightly by guitarist Cory Tetford and fiddler Kendel Carson, the livestreams will also feature special guest appearances by Fortunate Ones and Rachel Cousins on Nov. 13 and The Once and The Ennis Sisters on Nov. 14.

Livestream tickets are $20 in advance per night and $25 day of show (including tax and fees) and are available now, exclusively online at https://www.sonicconcerts.com/alan-doyle-livestream.

Track list:

  1. Fortunate Ones – Where Did We Get Lost
  2. Rachel Cousins – Song on the Record
  3. The Once – Lost Are Found
  4. The Ennis Sisters – Dream On
  5. Alan Doyle – A Tennessee Whisky and a Newfoundland Song
  6. All Artists – It’s Ok

 

Bass Icon Leland Sklar Launches Highly Anticipated New Book “Everybody Loves Me”

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The most legendary and iconic bass player on the planet, Leland Sklar, has launched his highly anticipated and long awaited coffee table masterpiece “Everybody Loves Me.” The book is filled with unique and unexpected photos of over 6,000 celebrities and everyday people giving Sklar the proverbial middle finger.

The California based rocker and most respected bassist in the industry has played and toured with artists including James Taylor, Carole King, Jackson Brown, Linda Ronstadt, Phil Collins, Toto, Bee Gees, Laura Branigan, Glen Campbell, Ray Charles, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Neil Diamond, and countless others. All told he has contributed to over 26,000 albums and has done many soundtracks for films and television shows. Many of those superstars appear in the book as well as Gwyneth Paltrow, Jack Nicholson, Bonnie Raitt, Bernie Williams (NY Yankees), Katey Sagal, and about 6,000 others.

“Everybody Loves Me” had created a buzz long before the book even came out. Random people and fans were known to walk up to Sklar giving him the bird before ever saying hello. According to Sklar, noticing the expressions on people’s faces as they held up their middle finger was of artistic interest to him while shooting the photographs.

The book sells for $60.00 however you can obtain a signed copy for $80.00. You can order this colorful Conversation piece directly from his website at https://www.lelandsklarsbeard.com

Paul McCartney Announces The Third Album In A Trilogy Of Classics: McCartney III

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2020 marks 50 years since Paul McCartney released his self-titled first solo album. Featuring Paul playing every instrument and writing and recording every song, McCartney’s effortless charms have only grown in stature and influence over time. The chart-topping album would signify not only a creative rebirth for Paul, but also as a template for generations of indie and lo-fi musicians seeking to emulate its warm homespun vibe and timeless tunes including Maybe I’m Amazed, Every Night and The Lovely Linda.

The 1970s saw Paul forming his second band Wings and dominating the charts, stages and airwaves of the world, with multiple #1 singles, sold-out world tours, multi-million-selling albums including Band on the Run, Venus and Mars, Wings at the Speed of Sound, London Town and more. In 1980,10 years from the release of McCartney, Paul wrapped up the decade of Wings with the surprise release of his second solo album, the electronic-tinged McCartney II. Once again featuring Paul entirely on his own, McCartney II would come to be regarded as a leftfield classic, with classic cuts such as Coming Up, Temporary Secretary and Waterfalls.

The 1980s saw Paul start again, this time kicking off an unprecedented solo run. The following four decades would see Paul’s iconic and legendary status grow exponentially, with solo masterpieces including Tug of War, Flowers in the Dirt, Pipes of Peace, Flaming Pie, Memory Almost Full and New, and massive live shows the world over — actually setting the World Record for the largest attendance at a concert. In 2018, 54 years since The Beatles first hit #1 on the Billboard Album Charts – Paul’s Egypt Station would be yet another historic #1 McCartney album.

Hard as it is to believe, it’s only been two years since Egypt Station went #1–and it was only last year that Paul’s Freshen Up tour played its last show before Covid hit pause on live music, a legendary blowout at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Paul hadn’t planned to release an album in 2020, but in the isolation of “Rockdown,” he soon found himself fleshing out some existing musical sketches and creating even more new ones. Before long an eclectic collection of spontaneous songs would become McCartney III: a stripped back, self-produced and, quite literally, solo work marking the opening of a new decade, in the tradition of 1970’s McCartney and 1980’s McCartney II. Recorded earlier this year in Sussex, McCartney III is mostly built from live takes of Paul on vocals and guitar or piano, overdubbing his bass playing, drumming, etc. atop that foundation. The process first sparked when Paul returned to an unreleased track from the early 90s, When Winter Comes (co-produced by George Martin). Paul crafted a new passage for the song, giving rise to album opener Long Tailed Winter Bird—while When Winter Comes, featuring its new 2020 intro Winter Bird, became the new album’s grand finale.

Speaking about III, Paul said: “I was living lockdown life on my farm with my family and I would go to my studio every day. I had to do a little bit of work on some film music and that turned into the opening track and then when it was done I thought what will I do next? I had some stuff I’d worked on over the years but sometimes time would run out and it would be left half-finished so I started thinking about what I had. Each day I’d start recording with the instrument I wrote the song on and then gradually layer it all up, it was a lot of fun. It was about making music for yourself rather than making music that has to do a job. So, I just did stuff I fancied doing. I had no idea this would end up as an album.”

Long Tailed Winter Bird and Winter Bird/When Winter Comes bookend McCartney III’s vast and intimate range of modes and moods, from soul searching to wistful, from playful to raucous and all points between — captured with some of the same gear from Paul’s Rude Studio used as far back as 1971 Wings sessions. And Paul’s array of vintage instruments he played on the new album have an even more storied history, including Bill Black of Elvis Presley’s original trio’s double bass alongside Paul’s own iconic Hofner violin bass, and a mellotron from Abbey Road Studios used on Beatles recordings, to name but a few.

In keeping with McCartney & McCartney II’s photography by Linda McCartney, the principal photos for III were shot by Paul’s daughter Mary McCartney—with additional photography by Paul’s nephew Sonny McCartney as well as photos Paul took on his phone (it’s a family affair). The cover art and typography is by celebrated American artist Ed Ruscha.

McCartney and McCartney II each saw Paul open up a new decade with reinvention, both personal and musical. Just as McCartney’s 1970 release marked Paul’s return to basics in the wake of the biggest band break-up in musical history, and the 1980 avant-garde masterpiece McCartney II rose from the ashes of Wings, McCartney III finds Paul back on his own, turning unexpected circumstances into a personal snapshot of a timeless artist at a unique point in history.

McCartney III will be released December 11 on Capitol Records across digital platforms, on CD, and on LP manufactured by Third Man Pressing. Vinyl configurations will range from standard 180g to a Third Man Edition of 3,000 hand-numbered red vinyl copies, a ‘333’ Edition sold only via Third Man Records online store and limited to 333 copies on yellow-with-black-dots vinyl created using 33 recycled vinyl copies of McCartney and McCartney II, a U.S. indie retail exclusive pressing of 4,000 hand-numbered white vinyl LPs, and more.

Rosanne Cash releases scathing yet hopeful new single “Crawl Into The Promised Land”

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Four-time GRAMMY-winning singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash has released “Crawl Into The Promised Land,” a scathing yet hopeful new single that transforms all the emotions of this unprecedented year into a powerful ode to the resilience of the human spirit. Read Cash’s essay on “Crawl Into The Promised Land” below.

The song was co-written by Cash and John Leventhal who produced the track and performed all instruments, along with backing vocals by Sarah Jarosz and Jakob Leventhal. “Crawl Into The Promised Land” is available to stream or download today and is accompanied by the release of a powerful video by Phyllis Housen and Eric Baker.

Proceeds from the single will be donated to the Arkansas Peace & Justice Memorial Movement, an educational online memorial to commemorate the victims of lynchings in the State of Arkansas in collaboration with the Equal Justice Initiative and Coming To The Table.

Cash says, “The pandemic and the protests were a perfect storm of isolation, inspiration, outrage, longing, fear, and hope. Living in New York City was a pressure cooker, particularly in April and May, when the deaths were spiking and the city sealed itself off, and utterly changed. But strangely, there was also a sense of transformation just around the curve, a sense of unity and community, and the potential for transcendence. I kept thinking of the model in physics, where things have to fall apart in order to re-assemble themselves in a more refined, evolved state.

“My tour was cancelled, and I was off the road, sequestered in my own home, with time, a stack of writing journals, and a recording studio in the basement. There was nothing to do to accommodate the emotional squeeze, and the rumblings of panic, and no way to articulate the division, and the suffering born of racism and the suffering born of Covid, with reason or logic. The only thing to do was write songs.

“We have been at the mercy of grifters with cruel intentions. People who operate out of greed and the most base ambitions. People who value power over human lives, and, shockingly, do not suffer the consequences of wielding that power. At the same moment, we are confronting the systemic racism in America, in a more conscious way, and we have to decide what we will do with the overdue epiphany. The veil is lifting. Hopefully, we are taking the first steps toward reparation and reconciliation. It requires facing some very dark parts of our shared history and our individual pockets of bias and privilege.

“I’m angry and bewildered that our leaders consider me and many others ‘the enemy’.

“I am a patriot. Every generation of my family has served this country, back to the 18th Century. Both sides of my family fought in the Revolutionary War in order to ‘form a more perfect union.’ I want to form a more perfect union than they wanted. One that acknowledges that Black and indigenous people were fighting in the War of Independence on the American side, and that they deserve full enfranchisement that they also earned three centuries back and have yet to be fully given. We’ve been here for centuries, and we’re here to stay. The corrupt motives of those elected to serve us have opened a chasm between North and South, red and blue, American and American. The trashing of norms, the abdication of dignity, values, and true leadership, torments me. I want to see the American dream become the American reality. If it wasn’t possible, it wouldn’t live so vividly in our imagination and our longing.

“John Leventhal more than met the impulse that led to my lyrics, and created the music that conveyed all the urgency, and faith, outrage and power. It happened quickly. It had been percolating for awhile.

“I want to run away from the moment, to look back at this time from decades in the future, and understand it, and see that we rose to our best selves, so I wrote the lines:

‘Fifty years away from here
Sixty, if I run’.

“I need more space and time to understand what happened, what we are still going through. Why we elected such an unfit person to guide us, why we kill Black people with impunity, why our leaders dismantle and mock every institution we have painstakingly created to hold us safe, why some deaths matter and others don’t. I won’t be here ‘fifty years away from here’, but someone I gave birth to, or someone they gave birth to, will live in those times and understand, and maybe pass the knowledge on to me, even in another world or another life. The magnitude of the moment requires time and an ocean of reflection.

“The song required a visual corollary. I wanted to connect the past and the present: the Voting Rights Act, and the Women’s March of 2017, the Civil Rights movement and the Black Lives Matter protestors, Harriet Tubman and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the workers in the cotton fields and the lives of those of us who live in privilege because of them, and the necessary gratitude for the humanity we share. There are photos of my mother, of my husband, of my spiritual and cultural ancestors, of my country at war, and my kinfolk in unity. Phyllis Housen and Eric Baker brought their refined visual sensitivity to weave the words, the backbeat, and the pictures.

“The song leads into the election. ‘Deliver me from tweets and lies’, begs to be delivered from hatred in the ranks, from division and violence, from conspiracy and delusion, and from those who blow wind into the embers of hatred. We can get back to our dream of America, where the ‘enemy’ is an individual burden, inside each of us, aching for a truce.

“‘Only in our dreams we had/faith in bigger lives and plans’. Now it is time to give breath to those dreams and ‘put away those broken vows’. We’re exhausted. We’re disoriented. But I know we have the strength and will to deliver ourselves, to crawl into the promised land.”

The Offspring Reissues ‘Conspiracy Of One’ As Limited-Edition Deluxe Color Vinyl For 20th Anniversary

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To commemorate its 20th anniversary, Conspiracy of One, the sixth album by punk rock trailblazers the Offspring, will once again be available on vinyl — the first time since its release in 2000. On December 11, Round Hill Records/UMe will release a deluxe version of Conspiracy of One pressed to yellow and red splatter vinyl, which includes spot gloss on the cover and a custom turntable slipmat featuring the Offspring’s flaming skull silhouette logo. A non-deluxe, limited-edition canary yellow vinyl variant will be available on uDiscover & The Sound of Vinyl. A standard black vinyl version will be released in early 2021.

All editions will feature the bonus track “Huck It.” The anthemic, sub-three-minute blast was featured on their 2000 VHS/DVD Huck It and used to soundtrack various skateboard stunts, including longtime Offspring drummer Ron Welty doing a successful board-to-board leap over two of his bandmates. “Huck It” will be released as a stand-alone digital single on November 13. In addition, the official videos for Conspiracy‘s first two singles – “Original Prankster” and “Want You Bad” – will be available on the Offspring’s Official YouTube channel in newly remastered HD.

Conspiracy of One, the first Offspring album of the 21st Century, was the fourth album from the game-changing punk group to be certified Platinum, a feat completed only a month after its release on November 14, 2000. The album is best known for its lead single, “Original Prankster,” a song that broke the Billboard Top 100 and hit Number 2 on the U.S. Alternative Airplay charts. The song and its mischievous video by director Dave Meyers included a funky sample from War’s “Low Rider” and a cameo from hip-hop legend Redman. The album’s follow-up single, “Want You Bad,” could be heard in the film American Pie 2 and the video game Crazy Taxi 3: High Roller.

About the release, Dexter Holland said, “When we put Conspiracy of One out in 2000, Bill Clinton was still President, and September 11 hadn’t happened yet. However, it was obvious that tensions were rising in the Middle East, and we could all sense that acts of terrorism were on the rise, both domestically and internationally.  In the U.S., we had all experienced the tragedy of the Oklahoma City bombing and had only recently apprehended the Unabomber, while internationally, there were instances of terrorism such as the sarin nerve gas attack in Japan, suicide bombing attacks in Chechnya, and the bombing of the USS Cole. It occurred to us that this was going to be a new way of waging war going forward.  While in the past, nations were generally attacked by other nations – army vs. army – we realized that the world was changing and that future attacks against our country were just as likely to occur by an individual or a small group…a “Conspiracy of One.” Of course, we had no idea what was in store for us on September 11, 2001, or how our title portended things to come.”

“Conspiracy of One seemed to come together pretty quickly, compared to some of other records,” said Noodles.  “It was our first time recording with Brendan O’Brien, and we learned a lot from him about how to get the sounds we were looking for. We still play ‘Prankster’ & ‘Want You Bad’ from this record, almost every show, and we’d like to add more to the set. ‘Come Out Swinging’ & ‘Million Miles Away’ always stoke the fans, and ‘Special Delivery’ was such a dynamic & fun part of our set when we played it back then. I still love all these songs.”

For Conspiracy of One, the Offspring used their flaming skull logo on an album cover for the first time — the now-iconic Alan Forbes illustration has since appeared on no small number of T-shirts, stickers, tattoos, and, recently, a custom tank in the multiplayer online game World of Tanks. The Offspring’s first collaboration with producer Brendan O’Brien (Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Rage Against the Machine), Conspiracy of One captures both the Offspring’s trademark locomotive pop-punk (“Come Out Swinging”, the 99-second “All Along”) and their genre-crossing experiments (the bridge of mid-tempo “Special Delivery” borrows the ooga-chaka from Blue Swede’s 1974 version of “Hooked on a Feeling”).

Alan Forbes is a fantastic graphic artist who did the artwork on Conspiracy of One and “Huck It,” Dexter shared.  “We had been fans of his work for years and were thrilled to have him help us with our album package.  Part of our conversations with Alan were about how it would be cool to have an official Offspring band logo.  We worked together and came up with the ‘flaming skull.’   It’s been our logo ever since!”

With more than 40 million albums sold worldwide, The Offspring are one of punk rock’s most significant ambassadors. Since 1985, their lineup has featured vocalist Dexter Holland and guitarist Noodles, with the entirety of the 1990s, spent with the Conspiracy of One rhythm section of bassist Greg K and drummer Ron Welty. Featuring “Come Out And Play (Keep ‘Em Separated)” and “Self Esteem,” their 1994 breakthrough Smash remains the largest selling album ever released on an independent label, certified six times Platinum. The group currently has festival dates scheduled across Europe for the summer of 2021.

Conspiracy of One Tracklist:

Side A

1. Intro
2. Come Out Swinging
3. Original Prankster
4. Want You Bad
5. Million Miles Away
6. Dammit, I Changed Again
7. Living In Chaos

Side B

1. Special Delivery
2. One Fine Day
3. All Along
4. Denial, Revisited
5 Vultures
6. Conspiracy Of One
7. Huck It

What Does a Healthy Body Look Like From the Inside Out?

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If you’re not as healthy as you’d like to be, it can show on the inside as well as the outside. So what does a healthy body look like? If you’re feeling run down, out of shape, or not like yourself, we’ve rounded up some warning signs to watch for.

It takes more than working out to boost your outward appearance. A healthy outside starts with a healthy inside. Nourishment, sleep, and physical activity keeps your body in good health from the inside out.

With everything going on in the world, it’s easy to feel anxious, tired, and out of synch. Thankfully, with a few small changes, you can get your health back on track. Here’s everything you need to know about how to look healthy and feel even better.

Thick Hair and Nails: What Does a Healthy Scalp Look Like?

Unhealthy hair starts from the inside. What you eat and drink will show in the condition of your hair. Luckily, with hair vitamins and eating well, you can have healthy-looking hair in no time.

It can be tough to get enough vitamins and nutrients from food alone. This is where vitamins come in to bridge the gap.

If your hair looks thinner and dryer, it could be a sign of dehydration as well. Brittle nails are also a warning sign. Make sure you’re drinking the recommended 11.5 to 15.5 cups of water a day.

When your hair is well hydrated and full of nutrients, you’ll see longer, stronger, healthier-looking hair. You’ll notice your hair is thicker and shinier as well. The same goes for your nails.

You Have a Good Energy Level

When you’re not taking care of yourself, your energy level is the first sign of trouble. If you’re not getting the nutrients, sleep, and physical activity you need, your energy levels will plummet.

When you aren’t eating well and sleeping, you’ll feel more sluggish. It’s hard to concentrate, stay awake, and have the motivation to get through the day. You’ll lose focus at work, skip workouts, or waste time on the couch.

Unfortunately, this is can lead to an unhealthy cycle. The more tired you feel, the more you’ll reach for unhealthy foods and drinks to get your energy levels back up. While endless coffee can go a long way, this isn’t a good long-term solution.

To keep your energy levels up throughout the day, look to whole, unprocessed foods. Eat plenty of leafy greens, fresh vegetables, and fruits. Nuts, legumes, and fish are also great sources of protein. If you’re feeling a dip in energy throughout the day, reach for some nuts as a quick pick-me-up.

You Can Handle Emotions

Our body regulates our emotions throughout the day. When you’re well-rested and in a good mood, you can handle your emotions better.

Let’s say you’ve been up all night with a baby and your older child breaks your favorite coffee mug. If you had a full night of sleep, you’d shrug this off easily. When you’re running on fumes, this might push you over the edge.

The same goes for how you handle other people’s emotions. If a co-worker blows a small issue out of proportion, your reaction might change depending on your mood.

To keep yourself on a more even keel, make sure you’re eating well and getting plenty of rest. When you feel sluggish, unhealthy, and out of sorts, you’ll feel it in your reactions as well.

You’re Headache Free

Headaches are a sign of illness, dehydration, low blood sugar, and more. If you’re starting to get more frequent headaches, consult your doctor. You should also make some dietary changes.

Make sure you’re drinking enough water and fluids as well. Eat a well-balanced diet and get plenty of rest. These changes will help ease your headaches.

Great Circulation

Circulation can tell us a lot about our overall health. If you’re feeling achy joints, restless legs, and sore muscles, it could be a sign of poor circulation.

Circulation affects our body’s ability to provide blood to the tissues in our body. Blood carries nutrients and oxygen to our cells. On the way, it’s grabbing waste, toxins, and carbon dioxide.

To boost your circulation, get plenty of physical activity. Stretch, walk and keep your body in motion. While a regular workout routine is great, even 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week will do the trick.

Even if you can’t go for a five-mile run, the most important thing is to get your body moving. The more you get your blood flowing, the better your circulation will be. This will boost your energy levels, heart health, and more.

Throughout the day, get up and move around. Go for a short walk, take a phone call on the road, or stretch. Stretch first thing in the morning to give your circulation a boost.

Fresh Breath and Good Oral Health

Bad breath is a sign of poor oral health. If you have chronic bad breath, it’s time to see a dentist. Professional teeth cleaning will do wonders for the look and feel of your teeth.

The number of dental visits you need will depend on the condition of your teeth. While some people only need to go once a year, others would benefit from frequent visits to the dentist.

Your Weight

Your weight says a lot about your overall health. If you’ve gained a lot of weight in a short period of time, this could be a sign of a serious health problem. Speak with your doctor about a recommended weight for you.

Excess weight puts more stress on our bodies. Everything will have to work harder to support your body. Most importantly, your heart and cardiovascular system will struggle to function, the more weight you have.

Remember, that feeling great is more than just the number on the scale. If you’re active, eating well, and getting sleep, you’ll feel better regardless of the size of your clothes.

Diabetes and Heart Health

Diabetes and poor heart health are unhealthy signs. Eating better, getting rest, and plenty of physical activity can turn things around.

When you consume too much sugar, carbohydrates, and processed foods, your body can’t absorb it all. Prolonged diabetes will cause unnecessary stress on your heart.

To get your blood flowing, balance your insulin levels, and improve your heart health, make good choices. Choose fresh foods, stay active, and keep your weight in line.

You’re Well Hydrated

If you’re well-hydrated it shows. Proper hydration affects almost everything in your body. You need water to make your body function at its best.

You can get hydration from more than just water. Other liquids and food contain water your body absorbs. Fresh fruits and vegetables contain especially high concentrations of liquid.

The more hydrated you are, the better your skin and hair will look on the outside as well. Your body needs water inside and out. If you’re feeling or looking sluggish, drink up.

You Wake Up Feeling Rested

When you wake up feeling rested, you know you got a good night of sleep. Sleeping poorly will change how you feel and look. You’ll notice bags under your eyes and find it hard to concentrate.

To get a good night of sleep, start your bedtime routine earlier. Put away your screens and give yourself plenty of time to wind down. Instead of watching television, working, or scrolling through social media, consider a screen-free activity.

Before bed, try reading a book, stretching, meditating, or taking a long shower. These activities will help your mind and body relax. The more relaxed you are, the easier it will be to shut down and sleep.

When you get the rest you need, your body has the energy to get you through the day. Sleep also helps your body inside do everything it needs to keep you going. Sleep impacts your immune system as well.

What Does a Healthy Body Look Like? Signs of an Unhealthy Body

You can see signs of an unhealthy body as much as you can feel them. But what does a healthy body look like? A healthy body looks well-rested, hydrated, and full of energy.

When your body feels great, you’ll look great. Make self-care a priority. Taking care of yourself on the inside means a healthier-looking you on the outside.

You only have one body. Treat it with respect and you’ll get the most out of it. For more health and fitness tips, check out the blog section for more great resources.

 

How to Make a Music Streaming App Like Spotify

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Smartphones can play audio and podcasts both offline and online, saving gigabytes of information in high quality. For example, an average teenager listens to music 10 hours a day, while adult music lovers spend at least 45 minutes a day listening to music. And in general, 60% of the population often falls asleep to the sounds of their favourite melody. The popular music player app is a product with a simple and intuitive interface and standard functionality. The number of its downloads in online software stores reaches 50-100 million times!

So, let’s take a look at the main features of a music streaming app and how to create a Spotify-like app.

The music streaming app includes features like sign up and subscribe, organize music, discover music, social media sharing, push notifications, and music library. Try this App Cost Calculator to get a custom estimate of your project.

The mobile app (like the desktop version) has three sections: Home, Search, and Media Library.

When you launch the application, the main page opens, on which there are several tabs: recent listens, personal selections (everything that the user listens on replay now or ripped a month, a year or two ago), curated selections from Spotify itself (for example, in the American account, these are playlists on the Black Lives Matter movement), favourite tracks and albums, playlists with novelties (for example, All-New Indie and Fresh Finds Pop), podcasts and several recommendation tabs, selected by the service algorithms based on the listener’s tastes.

What is immediately striking is, firstly, the variety of playlists for all occasions, and secondly, a thorough approach to personal recommendations. For example, there are collections of “My Mix of the Day”, which are divided by genre that the user is listening to. For example, if you listen to both drill and speed metal, Spotify has carefully prepared two genre playlists for you.

In the “Search” tab, there is, in fact, search and the history of recent requests and the library contains user-defined or added by the listener playlists, artists, albums, and podcasts.

In the “Main” section, on the top right, there is a button with settings: there you can adjust the quality of the music, play around with the equalizer, set the volume threshold, connect Google cards (an important bonus for motorists) and renew your subscription. It is also possible to subscribe to other users and see what they are listening to at the moment (if they have not hidden their privacy settings) – you can also show everyone what you are listening to.

So, you need to follow these steps to create a Spotify-like music streaming app.

➔  Step 1. Identify the main features that will make your app fun and easy to use.

Discover Weekly

Spotify’s most famous product is Discover Weekly’s weekly recommendation playlist, which is renowned for its precise algorithms and selections. The playlist does not appear immediately, but on Mondays, in order for the application to compose it, you need to listen to the music you are interested in. The playlist will appear on the Home screen in Personal Collections and in Search in Recommendations.

Endless Playlist

By default, Spotify has an infinite playlist: that is, after the current album or playlist is completed, the service itself will offer about 20 tracks similar to the ones you just listened to. Some people like endless playlists, but sometimes it’s inconvenient, for example, if you want to know for sure that the album has already ended and you can move on to another. For the second case, the endless playlist can be disabled.

Musicians Playlists

On the pages of popular musicians you can find not only their music, but also playlists that they have collected for fans or some events. Look for collections of songs from musicians at the very bottom of the screen.

Secret Track Switch

In Apple Music or other applications, the track can be switched with a button on a narrow strip, into which the player is minimized. Spotify doesn’t have this, so the track is switched either in a full-size player or in a secret way. But this feature can make your app unique. To do this, swipe the minimized player to the right or left, and  the track will switch.

Anonymous Mode

After registering in the app, you will be presented with your profile, which displays your collected playlists and recently listened artists by default. If you don’t want your friends to watch what you are listening to, then go to private mode.

Playlist Recommendations

Music apps recommend music based on your listens, but also based on individual playlists. For example, you can create a playlist with a new metal core and another with pop music. Recommendations for each will be different. To view them, go to the playlist in your library and scroll to the bottom.

Subtle Transitions between Songs

Any playlist in Spotify can be turned into a kind of mix, where the transitions between different tracks are almost invisible. The most interesting thing is to do this in a playlist with completely dissimilar performers. For example, the mixing of any hard Slipknot track and the beginning of the pop song by Cardi B looks especially good.

Equalizer

A rare instrument for modern streaming, it adjusts the frequencies of the outgoing sound to enhance the low or high frequencies. The tracks sound especially good on the “Electronics” and “Rock” presets.

Switch between Phone and Computer

The service synchronizes music playback between different devices. For example, if you listened to music on your phone, and then came home and went to the desktop version of an app, then it can continue the song from the same place. To do this, you just need to press the play button.

➔  Step 2. Select the type of licensing.

Spotify has two types of licenses, including the Sound Recording License Agreement and the Music Composition License Agreement. So you need to consider the licensing of an app and choose the appropriate license for your music platform. If you decide to launch a streaming application, then most likely you will need to get a license, which, of course, will affect the final cost of the product. Consider the possible time and money resources to develop an exciting app that will hit the downloading record.

➔  Step 3. Find the developers of the music app.

Choose the team that will create an app like Spotify for you. But you need to keep in mind to check the portfolio of your music app development company.

➔  Step 4. Develop the UI / UX design of the audio streaming application.

Now you and your development team must agree on what the future application will look like. To do this, you need to create a Wireframe, Mockup and Prototype application.

➔  Step 5.Create an MVP Audio Streaming Application

At this step, you will define your MVP (Minimum Viable Product) and all other details along with your development team and you are ready to go.

Add Social Activity of Users

By adding the “Like” button next to the name of the song being played, you will help not only users but also yourself. So, people will be able to instantly share their opinions and rate compositions. As for you, you will know better what kind of music is popular.

Add Notifications

When you create a music streaming platform in app format, don’t forget about communication with users. Knowing the tastes of your audience will help you have a conversation with them. People always want to know everything about their favorite artists, so that along with the music you can share this information with them. This will make the application even more attractive.

By developing a mobile music application, you have a great opportunity to work with art that is timeless and, at the same time, create the image of the modern music industry. So, consider these steps and recommendations while creating a Spotify-like app.

 

Slash – the hat, the hair and the Gibson: Guns N Roses legend on his guitars

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One of rock’s most idiosyncratic lookers, performers and characters, Slash is unmistakable. The immaculate hat, the tight black curled long hair and that beautiful Gibson guitar. Since 1987’s Appetite For Destruction Slash has beguiled us with the trademark growling tone he’s managed to extract from myriad Gibson Les Pauls. You could say that the long-haired, dark sunglass-wearing guitarist was almost singlehandedly responsible for the return to prominence and prestige of Gibson as a brand in rock circles. It was, therefore, the least that Gibson could do to design a personalised guitar for the man. The Gibson USA Slash Signature Les Paul Standard may not be a moniker that slips off the tongue, but it certainly fits the playing style of the man himself. “You know what happened?” Slash rhetorically asked Premier Guitar journalist Steven Rosen, in their 2008 interview. “There are basically four Slash models at this point: there’s the Gold Top which is coming out and the other ones that I did not too long ago. And those are just after years and years of refining my own Les Pauls. So it was very simple to sort of go down and hang out with the boys over at Gibson in the Custom Shop and also Gibson USA and go, ‘This is specifically what we need to put on this guitar and how we need to do the neck,’ and so on and so forth. It’s like I’ve been developing my own Les Pauls over the years for myself and so we just modelled these guitars after particular favourites of mine.” Slash always did gravitate to Gibson models with relatively slim necks, knowing that it brought the best out of him. As Paul at Select Recording Studios says, “it is often little details that make a big difference when choosing a guitar that suits you. You need to hold a good few guitars before you realise what your particular quirk is.”

Not content with his signature model, Slash has also become the first guitarist to be endowed with his own Gibson collection. In a recent interview in guitar.com he elaborated on this particular privilege. ““It’s cool because in the past I’ve had individual Slash models, that are limited edition that would come out through the Custom Shop and that was it, but it’s just really nice to have a USA model – that you can look at the catalogue and it’s there all the time. And also just to make guitars that are more affordable, because the Custom Shop guitars were custom guitars and they were handmade, y’know? Anytime anybody wanted to get one of those guitars, you have to fork out fuckin’ a lot of money! So I’m really happy to be working with Gibson on these USA guitars – I mean, I’ve got one that I’ve been using for the last few months that plays amazingly, so I’m just really stoked about it.” When coming up with ideas for such a bespoke collection, that ticks all the boxes, it’s important to have a good working relationship with the company and Slash had nothing but good words for Gibson CEO Cesar Gueikian. “We hit it off right away, on the first day I met him – he’s so enthusiastic. He’s a huge guitar fanatic – obviously a really smart businessman – but he has a great vision for keeping the heritage of the company intact.

 

 

Video: ‘Future Shock’. The ‘Soul Train’ wannabe hosted by James Brown

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Future Shock was a television variety show produced and hosted by James Brown from 1976 to 1979. Shot in Augusta and Atlanta, Georgia and broadcast late on Friday nights on the Ted Turner-owned UHF station WTCG, it featured local amateurs performing a variety of popular and emerging dance styles, including disco, locking and popping, and early breakdancing, to prerecorded music. Brown and his musical guests also performed briefly. Other regular features included dance contests, interviews, and segments on African-American history. “Future Shock (Dance Your Pants Off)”, a song written by Brown and recorded by Maceo Parker with The J.B.’s, served as the show’s nominal theme music, though it was not consistently used.

Fender Brings Back Free Online Guitar Lessons

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Fender stands to report the brand’s highest-ever year for sales in 2020 with individuals turning to music to occupy their time during quarantine and stay-at-home orders, as reported in The New York Times.  In March 2020, Fender gave away three months of free guitar, bass, and ukulele lessons via Fender Play as an act of goodwill during the pandemic. Within a month, Fender Play’s user base grew nearly 500% to approximately 930,000 aspiring players learning on the app. Recognizing this growing community of players, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) is bringing back this goodwill offer – three months of free Fender Play – through the end of 2020. The Fender Play app makes it easier than ever to learn how to play the guitar, bass or ukulele with multi-genre, instructor-guided video lessons to assist those embarking on their musical journey. Designed with bite-sized learning in mind, Fender Play gives beginners everything they need to get playing songs by their favorite artists in minutes.

To ensure those motivated by this record interest can get started with the right instrument, Fender has launched the findyour.fender.com interactive online guide, an intuitive web experience that demystifies the guitar shopping process to help match up new players with the right gear for their playing style and musical interests.

“Fender is increasingly focused on bringing new players to our industry as new players have fueled solid growth in guitar sales for over a decade and continue to represent the future of our industry,” said Andy Mooney, CEO at Fender. “Given the accelerated growth in new players entering the market this year, with most researching their buying decisions on-line, we created the FindYourFender experience to assist new players in personally selecting the ideal guitar, uke or bass for them to enjoy.”

For new players of all generations, the question of “where to start?” and “what guitar do I buy?” have long been difficult ones. These new players might have an idea about what they want their first guitar to look and sound like, but may not be familiar with all the options – namely the best gear for their need. FindYourFender offers a solution to this problem by first learning about the user, including which genre of music inspired them to pick up guitar, the finishes and colors that match their personal style, and the price range they’re comfortable with. The online experience also offers simple, interactive tools so users can listen to what tones Fender instruments and hardware can provide — eliminating technical jargon and instead letting users hear firsthand which sounds resonate most with their musical taste. After the user finds their perfect instrument, they’ll be directed to Fender.com and have the opportunity to find the closest Fender dealer. The FindYourFender microsite also takes into consideration the new player’s approximate budget — not just for the guitar, bass or uke, but also for the equipment and accessories they need as well.

“The current circumstances have made it harder for new enthusiasts to get the hands-on experience and expert advice they need before investing in their first instrument,” said Evan Jones, CMO at Fender. “For any new player to be successful in the long term, it’s important they get the information they deserve and right instrument from the start. All too often, the guitar buying experience can be overwhelming for beginners, but FindYourFender is one of the first interactive online experience to offer new players an intuitive, personalized solution.”

Three free months of Fender Play is now available for new users at fender.com/playfree. FindYourFender is live for new players in the U.S., U.K .and Australia at findyour.fender.com. For a video walkthrough of FindYourFender click here. To access screenshots of the experience, click here.