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Saul Williams, L’Rain, and More Recite Sun Ra’s Poetry on New Collection ‘My Words Are Music’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Saul Williams, L’Rain, and More Recite Sun Ra’s Poetry on New Collection ‘My Words Are Music’

Omni Sound has announced My Words Are Music: A Celebration of Sun Ra’s Poetry, which is set for release on August 25 digitally and October 27 in physical formats. The album features recitations of the late jazz legend’s poems by artists including Saul Williams, L’Rain, TV on the Radio’s Tunde Adebimpe, Sun Ra Arkestra’s longtime bandleader Marshall Allen, Mahogany L. Browne, Carl Hancock Rux, and more. Listen to Saul Williams’ reading of ‘When Angels Speak’ below, alongside a visual featuring animation by Mertcan Mertbilek.

Sun Ra Arkestra’s most recent album was 2022’s Living Sky.

My Words Are Music: A Celebration of Sun Ra’s Poetry Cover Artwork:

My Words Are Music: A Celebration of Sun Ra’s Poetry Tracklist:

Side A:

1. Marshall Allen – ‘EVI Introduction’
2. Saul Williams – ‘When Angels Speak’
3. Mahogany L. Browne – ‘Circle Eternity’
4. Anthony Joseph – ‘The Three Dimensions of Air’
5. Melanie Charles – ‘[Anything can give up its life]’
6. Abiodun Oyewole – ‘Somebody Else’s Idea’
7. Tara Middleton – ‘I Have Forgotten’
8. Jive Poetic – ‘Flight’
9. L’Rain – ‘Love in Outer Space’
10. Tunde Adebimpe – ‘The Endless Realm’
11. Zakia Sewell – ‘The Cosmic Age’
12. Cal Hancock Rux – ‘Sun-Day’
13. Knoel Scott & Marshall Allen – ‘The Melody of Air’

Side B:

1. Anthony Joseph – ‘The Invisible Giants’
2. L’Rain – ‘I Deal In Souls’
3. Tunde Adebimpe – ‘Black Prince Charming’
4. Mahogany L. Browne – ‘Message to Black Youth’
5. Jive Poetic – ‘Nothing Is’
6. Melanie Charles – ‘The Friends of Skill’
7. Saul Williams – ‘The Outer Darkness’
8. Zakia Sewell – ‘If I Told You’
9. Carl Hancock Rux – ‘The Void’
10. Knoel Scott & Marshall Allen – ‘The Neglected Plane of Wisdom’

Snõõper Release New Single ‘Running’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Snõõper Release New Single ‘Running’

Snõõper have shared ‘Running’, the latest offering from their forthcoming debut LP, Super Snõõper, ahead of its release on Friday (July 14) via Third Man Records. Following recent singe ‘Powerball’, the track arrives with an accompanying video helmed by Sean McGuirk. Check it out below.

“’Running’ was written during the pandemic as many of our early songs were,” vocalist Blair Tramel explained in a statement. “This song was written deep in the pandemic when people began to feel hopeless and everything began to feel really scary. The George Floyd protests were happening, Trump was president, and people felt out of control as we watched our country experience the consequences of an unjust system. Political leaders were fanning the flames as people were screaming for change. All of this was happening at a time when people couldn’t properly take action due to pandemic restrictions. It was a horrifying feeling. Most days, all I could do was go for a long walk or run. I think sometimes that’s all anyone can do when things feel out of control. We can always get out of our minds and into our bodies. Move, breathe, jump, put one foot in front of the other.”

This Week’s Best New Songs: Taylor Swift, ANOHNI and the Johnsons, Tkay Maidza, and More

Konstantinos Pappis
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This Week’s Best New Songs: Taylor Swift, ANOHNI and the Johnsons, Tkay Maidza, and More

Throughout the week, we update our Best New Songs playlist with the new releases that caught our attention the most, be it a single leading up to the release of an album or a newly unveiled deep cut. And each Monday, we round up the best new songs released over the past week (the eligibility period begins on Monday and ends Sunday night) in this best new music segment.

On this week’s list, we have Taylor Swift’s ‘Castles Crumbling’, a mournful yet fantastical ballad from Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) featuring Paramore’s Hayley Williams; Tkay Maidza and Flume’s bouncy, hard-hitting collaboration ‘Silent Assasin’; ANOHNI and the Johnsons’ achingly beautiful ‘Why Am I Alive Now?’, which appears on her first album in seven years; Glasser’s hypnotically danceable ‘Drift’, taken from her new album crux;  Teenage Fanclub’s latest single, the wistful and catchy ‘Tired of Being Alone’; and ‘Portrait of a Clear Day’, a delicately striking highlight off Julie Byrne’s The Greater Wings that sneaks in a powerful piece of wisdom: “Love affirms the pain of life.”

Best New Songs: July 10, 2023

Taylor Swift feat. Hayley Williams, ‘Castles Crumbling’

Tkay Maidza and Flume, ‘Silent Assasin’

Song of the Week: ANOHNI and the Johnsons, ‘Why Am I Alive Now?’

Glasser, ‘Drift’

Teenage Fanclub, ‘Tired of Being Alone’

Julie Byrne, ‘Portrait of a Clear Day’

Watch Spotlight: Grand Seiko Mechanical SBGR261

Modestas Mankus
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Watch Spotlight: Grand Seiko Mechanical SBGR261

Grand Seiko’s relentless pursuit of precise timekeeping and superior craftsmanship is embodied in our latest addition to the Watch Spotlight, the Grand Seiko Mechanical (SBGR261). This timepiece, part of the Elegance Collection, offers a spotless, classic aesthetic that whispers elegance. In this article, we’ll uncover why we adore this piece and why it deserves a spot on Watch Spotlight.

Design

The design of the Grand Seiko SBGR261 is a watch that exemplifies the profile of traditional dress watches. The watch features a box-shaped sapphire crystal glass, ensuring outstanding durability and is coated with an anti-reflective coating on the inner surface for ease of use.

When it comes to the dial, we are treated with a warm cream dial, typically associated with more vintage timepieces, though still commonly used by brands like Seiko, Patek Philippe, Orient, and Longines. It’s the type of dial that brings character to the piece without overshadowing its elegance with elaborateness and glitz. As an element of contrast, the watch comes with a blue steel second hand, making the piece enliven nicely.

The case is made from stainless steel, a common but trusted material in the watch world, especially in dress watches. In addition, the Grand Seiko watch comes with a beautiful premium Crocodile leather strap that adds depth to the spotless look of the case. At 39.5mm, the watch is well-balanced for wearers of bigger and smaller timepieces.

Movement

At the heart of the Grand Seiko SBGR261 is an automatic movement Caliber 9S65 that is a testament to Grand Seiko’s commitment to precision and reliability. It offers a nice upgrade on its predecessor 9S55, which, unlike the 9S65, offers Grand Seiko’s Magic Lever mechanism.

The movement has 35 jewels for a smooth operation with a power reserve of 72 hours, which is in the ideal range for automatic watches. According to Grand Seiko, the mean daily rate of the movement is around +5 to -3 seconds per day.

Conclusion

Classic dress watches live on with brands like Grand Seiko, and the SBGR261 certainly contributes to that. With a price tag of £4,350, the SBGR261 is unquestionably a satisfying timepiece that can last long if serviced and treated with respect. While investment-wise, I wouldn’t recommend this watch as Grand Seiko’s typically don’t hold great value after they leave a watch boutique. Based on its aesthetics and movement, I would certainly keep this piece on a list of classic-looking dress watches to own.

Yuge Zhou Expands Series with Video Art Installations at Museum of Contemporary Photography

Modestas Mankus
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Yuge Zhou Expands Series with Video Art Installations at Museum of Contemporary Photography

Chinese-born video artist Yuge Zhou is renowned for exploring urban spaces and contemporary life through art. Now associated with the New Museum’s tech incubator NEW INC, Zhou’s work has earned global recognition, including ArtPrize 2021’s Juried Award and Honorary Mention at the 2020 Prix Ars Electronica. 

Initially debuting at Art on the Mart, Zhou’s series Love Letters fascinated audiences with a nightly public art projection onto the facade of the Merchandise Mart. As a result, two new episodes, Summer and Winter, will be exhibited in the LOVE: Still Not The Lesser exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Photography. Throughout the series, Zhou explores national and personal identity, place, connection, and longing through observational vantage points, collage, and choreography. 

The exhibition will run from the 17th of August until the 22nd of December, 2023.

LOFTIA: A New MMO That Achieved TikTok Popularity

George Jones
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LOFTIA: A New MMO That Achieved TikTok Popularity

Inspired by The Sims, Animal Crossing, and Minecraft, kick-started by Australian couple Michael and Martina alongside a team of 5 developers (2022) – known as Qloud Games. Loftia is described as an “MMO, solar punk video game” encouraging players (or so-called ‘Loftians’) to create and customise a cosy sustainable world. “A home away from home”.

Now in 2023, with a small team of just over 20 people, the transition for the game to be built on Unreal Engine 5 was a turning point for Loftia as stated by the team, shying from being just a hobby.

Having uploaded extensive behind-the-scenes footage on TikTok from “A Day in the Life of a Video Game Developer”, to frequent viewer-directed content. For example, upon introducing new NPC Amani into Loftia, viewers were asked to suggest “fun character traits” that could be included. As a result of such engagement, Loftia has seen much attraction.

More recently, a TikTok released on the 29th of May titled “Housing Customisation” received almost 6 million views and over 1 million likes. The video later questioned the audience as to “which housing styles Loftia should include?”. It was clear to see that the majority of the 15,000 comments responded with fruitful ideas, with user younasteh commenting “THIS IS MY TYPE OF GAME. tbh im a maximalist so I want it all”. Another user, Gem Zape commented saying “I love this! Will be following your journey! Excited for this”.

Source: loftia.gg TikTok

This engagement quickly translated to growth and development for Lofita, with the official TikTok account @loftia.gg surpassing 150,000 followers, gaining more than 160,000 on Instagram, and almost 20,000 on Discord this past year.

Such content already teased in recent TikTok videos includes an Eco-friendly Bakery, Flying Fish Wind Turbines, and a virtual Study Café designed for the Loftian as described by Michael and Martina to “achieve their goals and connect with long distant friends and family” by customising to-do lists and listening to music.

Qloud encourages Loftia to be more than just a game, but a chance to educate and advocate for sustainability. Its developers believe Loftia has the power to promote positive environmental change which is so heavily reflected in the game’s design.

MMO’s possess a notorious reputation for their developmental difficulty and competence. Yet, the team is adamant that they will provide a great experience.

Nevertheless, Qloud recently planned a kick-starter campaign from August 1st, 2023, with the aim to provide a crowdfunding source to ensure the release and reality of Loftia. An actual release date for Loftia has yet to be announced, but we hope this educational, relaxing, and cosy game makes its way to all platforms soon.

Watch Taylor Swift’s New Video for ‘I Can See You (Taylor’s Version)’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Watch Taylor Swift’s New Video for ‘I Can See You (Taylor’s Version)’

Taylor Swift has shared a new video for her “From the Vault” track ‘I Can See You (Taylor’s Version)’, which appears on the just-released Speak Now (Taylor’s Version). Swift stars alongside Taylor Lautner, Joey King, and Presley Cash in the self-directed clip, which she debuted at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri as part of her ongoing Eras Tour. Check it out below.

Swift also brought out Lautner and King on stage for the video’s premiere last night. “He was a very positive force in my life when I was making the Speak Now album, and I want to say he did every single stunt that you saw in that music video,” she said.

Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) is Swift’s third re-recorded album, following Red (Taylor’s Version) and Fearless (Taylor’s Version). It features appearances from Fall Out Boy and Paramore’s Hayley Williams on two other “From the Vault” tracks.

Mick Jenkins Announces New Album, Shares New Single ‘Smoke Break-Dance’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Mick Jenkins Announces New Album, Shares New Single ‘Smoke Break-Dance’

Mick Jenkins has announced a new album, The Patience, which will arrive on August 18 via RBC Records/BMG. The follow-up to 2021’s Elephant in the Room is led by the single ‘Smoke Break-Dance’, which is produced by Stoic and features JID. Check out its Andre Muir–directed video below.

“As best I can be, I am a person who does everything within his power to change his situation,” Jenkins said of the new LP. “I think with some level of consistency, that behavior inevitably leads you to a point where you have to wait. I see this as a period of time in one’s journey, no matter the length, where the unseen things must take place; the muscles must tear and repair, the understanding of a concept coming to you in a moment completely devoid of artistic intention. It’s through these moments where I’ve found myself being the most frustrated with patience. And this body of work sounds like that frustration.”

Depeche Mode Share Wet Leg Remix of ‘Wagging Tongue’

Konstantinos Pappis
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Depeche Mode Share Wet Leg Remix of ‘Wagging Tongue’

Depeche Mode have shared a remix of their Memento Mori track ‘Wagging Tongue’. It’s part of a set of reworkings the band has unveiled today from artists including Daniel Avery, Kid Moxie, and more. Take a listen below.

Memento Mori, the follow-up to 2017’s Spirit, came out in March.

London Grammar and SebastiAn Team Up on New Song ‘Dancing By Night’

Konstantinos Pappis
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London Grammar and SebastiAn Team Up on New Song ‘Dancing By Night’

French artist/producer SebastiAn and London Grammar have teamed up for the new song ‘Dancing By Night’. The track arrives with a music video directed by Jeanne Lula Chauveau. Watch and listen below.

“It was a total joy writing and creating this track with Sebastian,” London Grammar said in a statement. “We are so excited for you to hear it. He is a total genius and it really has been an honour.”

‘Dancing By Night’ is part of a new remix collection, London Grammar – The Remixes, which will be released on July 21 via Ministry of Sound. It features reworkings from artists such as Dot Major, Jamie Jones, and Joris Voorn, as well as another original track, a collaboration with CamelPhat.

London Grammar’s last album, Californian Soil, came out in 2021.

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