Home Blog Page 496

Angelica Garcia Announces New Album ‘Gemelo’, Shares New Single

Angelica Garcia has announced a new album, Gemelo, her debut for Partisan Records. It’s out June 7, and the new single ‘Color De Dolor’ is out today. It arrives with a music video directed by Sergi Castellà and shot in Simi Valley, CA. Check it out below.

“Grief is nuanced, and sometimes pain can be intertwined with beauty,” Garcia said in a statement. “Gemelo is a body of work that explores the process of grieving – acknowledging the light and shadow within it. ‘Color De Dolor’ was the first song that was written for Gemelo. It’s also the first song on the record where I face grief for what it is. I wanted ‘Color De Dolor’ to feel very textured and lush, like you’re walking through a jungle. To me, its kaleidoscopic quality shows sadness and beauty.”

Gemelo Cover Artwork:

Gemelo Tracklist:

1. Reflexiones
2. Color De Dolor
3. Juanita
4. Ángel [eterna]
5. Mirame
6. Y Grito
7. El Que
8. Intuición
9. Gemini
10. Paloma

Watch Adrianne Lenker Perform ‘Free Treasure’ on ‘Fallon’

Adrianne Lenker was the musical guest on last night’s episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where she performed ‘Free Treasure’, the latest single from her upcoming album. Watch it below.

Lenker’s new album, Bright Future, is set to arrive on Friday (March 22) via 4AD. Along with the recently unveiled ‘Free Treasure’, the LP has also been previewed by the songs ‘Ruined’, ‘Sadness as a Gift’, and ‘Fool’. Earlier this week, Lenker shared clips of her performing a couple of the singles with Nick Hakim at New York’s Electric Lady Studios, which you can check out below, too.

Maya Hawke Shares Video for New Song ‘Dark’

Maya Hawke has shared a new single, ‘Dark’, which will appear on her upcoming album Chaos Angel. The track, which follows last month’s ‘Missing Out’, comes paired with a video from director Alex Ross Perry. Check it out below.

“‘Dark’ is a cut and dry love song about a relationship struggling to find its footing,” Hawke explained in a statement. “It’s about trying to sort out the mixed bag of history and pain two people bring into a new love to find the path forward. The chorus was written a few years ago when I was going through a particularly debilitating bout of bedtime anxiety: I would lay in bed with the fear that if I let myself fall asleep, my brain would forget how to breathe and I would die in my sleep. I saw a doctor who told me that I had to become okay with dying. He said if I accepted it, I would be able to sleep and would likely…not die. He was right, I didn’t die. And I wrote this song to celebrate it.”

Chaos Angel, the follow-up to 2022’s Moss, will be released on May 31 via Mom+Pop.

Bad Bad Hats Share New Single ‘My Heart Your Heart’

Minneapolis indie rock duo Bad Bad Hats have released a new single, ‘My Heart Your Heart’. It’s taken from their upcoming self-titled album, which arrives April 12 on Don Giovanni Records. Check it out below.

“The chorus of this song is actually something I wrote back in January 2018 when we were working on our second album, Lightning Round,” Kerry Alexander explained in a statement. “I always liked it, but sometimes songs need you to go through years of new inspiration and trial and error before you’re ready to uncover their final form. Thankfully in April of 2021, a chord progression I was working on led me back to it. To have someone tell me, ‘When I die, I want you to have my CDs’ would be the highest honor.”

Roni Horn to Display at Houser & Wirth New York

The Wooster Street location of Hauser & Wirth in New York City will open an exhibition of new works by Roni Horn on the 4th of April. Known for blending conceptual rigour with exquisite visual sensuality, her never-before-exhibited cast-glass sculptures will accompany Horn’s latest works on paper. Highlighting her enduring exploration of identity, meaning and perception, these works continue to reveal Horn’s deeply conscientious engagement in humanity’s relationship to the natural world.

Horn began making cast-glass sculptures in the mid-1990s, pouring coloured molten glass into moulds that would then gradually anneal over the course of several months. As a result of years of research and development, Horn’s works have almost an alchemical quality: they are fluid and solid at the same time. Aesthetically ambiguous, their opaque, roughly textured sides bear impressions of the moulds in which they were cast. At the same time, their glossy, fire-polished tops recall the crystal-clear surface of an undisturbed pool of water.

Horn’s works are featured in numerous major international institutions and collections including the Guggenheim Museum, New York NY; Museum of Modern Art, New York NY; The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago IL; Tate Modern, London, England; Kunsthalle Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany; Kunsthaus Zürich, Switzerland; and Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France.

5 Tips for Buying a Home at Auction

When purchasing a property, whether as a dream home or a project to flip, buying at auction can be an exhilarating yet daunting experience.

Auctions are a fast-paced environment that requires you to carefully plan your strategy to secure your dream property at the right price.

So, whether you’re a seasoned investor or a first-time buyer, here are just five essential tips to help you see success in the auction process.

1. Conduct Thorough Research

When it comes to buying a home at auction, research is key. Pay attention to important details such as a property’s condition, location, size, and any potential issues it may have.

Additionally, and especially if you’re buying a property to renovate and sell, research other properties in the area to get an idea of market prices and trends.

With property auction platforms, such as Auction House, you can find properties and upcoming auctions that you can attend in person or online.

2. Set a Budget

Auctions can be highly competitive environments that may lead you to make impulsive bids and risk overspending. If you want to avoid getting caught up in an excitement that could cause a costly mistake, it’s crucial to set a strict budget before the auction begins – and make sure you stick to it!

Determine the maximum amount you’re willing to spend, and be sure to factor in additional costs such as auction fees, taxes, and renovation expenses.

By having an established budget and exercising self-control during the bidding process, you’ll avoid overextending yourself financially.

3. Be Flexible and Patient

When looking for your auction property it’s essential to remain flexible and patient. Even if you have your heart set on one particular property, you should be prepared for unexpected outcomes, including the possibility that you’ll be outbid or the property not meeting its reserve price.

Don’t be discouraged if you find a property at the first auction you attend – there will always be other opportunities. Keep refining your strategy, learning from each experience.

4. Consider Renovations

When buying a property at auction, it’s important to remember that you may need to make significant renovations to bring it up to scratch.

Consider the alterations that previous owners might have left behind and put a plan in place to have them fixed. For example, if the previous owner had a stairlift installed that you don’t need, experts such as We Buy Any Stairlift can remove it safely for you.

If you’re thinking of buying a property at auction, then you should factor the potential cost of necessary renovations into your budget to ensure that you have enough left after purchase.

5. Find a Reliable Contractor

Depending on your skill level, you might be able to save money by carrying out renovations yourself. However, there are some jobs that you won’t be qualified to carry out safely.

For example, when making changes to the gas and electric, you should consult with experts even if this will require you to spend more initially.

With platforms such as Checkatrade, you can find reliable contractors in your area to ensure that your renovations are completed safely.

Have you ever bought a property at auction? Share your experiences of the process and any top tips to keep in mind in the comments below!

The Benefits of Embracing and Exploring Your Intimate Self

There’s a misconception among some people (hopefully it’s a minority) that exploring your sexuality and overall intimate side of yourself is something wrong, but that’s actually so far away from reality and truth.

Keep in mind that by embracing this side of yourself, you’ll be able to uncover things concerning your wishes and personality that you weren’t familiar with before. And that’s not the only benefit from it. There are so many reasons why it’s beneficial to embark on the journey of self-exploration and below we’ll tell you more about it.

You’ll Understand Your Desires Much Better

As concluded previously, one of the biggest benefits of exploring and embracing your intimate side is the fact that you’ll understand your desires and everything else that comes along with it so much better.

After all, how can you expect anyone else to know you thoroughly if you’re the one who is not familiar with every single aspect of your being? If you would like to know what attracts you the most in terms of sex, then for starters, you should browse the web and go to different porn websites that are loaded with erotic videos of various kinds. For instance, if you’re interested in ebony-themed videos, then you should find a black porn website to see if out there you’ll find the content that you like. What’s generally great about the internet is that it offers so much sex-related stuff that is going to help you determine what you like and what you don’t.

Additionally, it’s important to prioritize your sexual health, and you can start by using resources like STD Test Compare to ensure you’re informed and protected. Understanding your sexual health is just as crucial as exploring your desires.

You’ll Become A Lot More Confident

Some of you may not agree with this conclusion, but trust us when we say, that embracing your intimate self will undoubtedly positively impact your self-esteem. You’ll become a lot more confident because now, you finally know what you want and need which wasn’t the case in the past, right?

Don’t forget that this boost of confidence will not only influence your sex life but will spill over into various aspects of your life, which means that it will most likely boost your career advancements and make your relationship with others much stronger. 

Not to mention the fact that when we feel great about ourselves, we start to exude that positivity and confidence, and then others start seeing these great things in us too!

And Then There’s Self-Acceptance 

One of the things that can undoubtedly lead to accepting every aspect of yourself is connecting with yourself and embracing your sexuality. And there’s no need to remind you how beneficial self-acceptance is.

People who fully embrace and accept themselves, suddenly become a lot more satisfied and happier. We know that it’s not always easy to fully explore your intimate side, but don’t forget that it is part of your being as well and that you won’t be able to accept yourself one hundred percent if you haven’t explored and embraced this side of you too.

As you can see, there are several benefits to exploring and accepting your intimate side, so please do not go through life without doing what’s necessary to fully embrace it, otherwise, you will never be one hundred percent happy. Exploring women’s sexual health products could also be a part of this journey towards self-discovery and acceptance.

What is smart manufacturing, and how can it help your business?

Smart manufacturing offers businesses incredible growth opportunities, efficiency, and sustainability. At its heart, smart manufacturing uses state-of-the-art technologies like the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, robotics, and data analytics to create interconnected and automated production systems. But what exactly is smart manufacturing, and how can it help your business? Let’s break it down and see how this innovative approach reshapes modern enterprises.

What is Smart Manufacturing?

Smart manufacturing integrates technologies such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, robotics and automation, data analytics, and digital twins to optimise industrial processes. The Internet of Things involves interconnected sensors and devices that communicate with each other, collecting data from machinery and enabling remote monitoring and control. Artificial intelligence acts as a highly intelligent brain, analysing vast amounts of data to identify patterns, optimise workflows, and predict future outcomes, enhancing efficiency and productivity. Robotics and automation play a crucial role in smart manufacturing by automating tasks and increasing speed and accuracy while reducing errors and the need for manual intervention in repetitive processes. Data analytics tools process numerical data, transforming it into actionable insights that aid in making informed decisions and continuously improve operational efficiency. Digital twins create virtual replicas of physical assets, allowing for testing and experimentation without affecting real-world equipment, enabling companies to simulate scenarios and refine processes before implementation.

Together, these technologies form the backbone of smart manufacturing, revolutionising traditional industrial practices by allowing real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and agile decision-making, ultimately driving efficiency, cost savings, and innovation in manufacturing processes.

The Benefits of Smart Manufacturing for Businesses

Enhanced Operational Efficiency

Smart manufacturing optimises production processes, minimises downtime, and maximises resource utilisation, allowing small businesses to achieve more with less. SMEs can boost output levels without requiring extensive resources by simplifying workflows and automating routine tasks.

Improved Quality Control

Through real-time monitoring and data analytics, smart manufacturing identifies defects and deviations early, enabling immediate corrective action for small businesses. This leads to higher-quality products, reduced waste, and increased customer satisfaction, which is crucial for building and maintaining a loyal customer base.

Greater Agility and Flexibility

Smart manufacturing fosters agile and responsive operations, which is crucial for SMEs to adapt to changing market dynamics and customer demands swiftly. By embracing flexibility, small businesses can capitalise on emerging opportunities and remain competitive in their respective industries.

Cost Savings and Waste Reduction

Smart manufacturing helps SMEs optimise energy consumption, minimise material waste, and prevent equipment failures through predictive maintenance, resulting in significant cost savings. Additionally, automation reduces reliance on manual labour, further driving down operational expenses for small business owners. Moreover, waste reduction saves costs and contributes to environmental conservation, a concern shared by many SMEs.

Data-Driven Decision Making

Smart manufacturing equips small business owners with actionable insights from real-time data analysis, empowering them to make informed decisions across various operations. Whether optimising production schedules, identifying market trends, or enhancing customer experiences, data-driven strategies drive success for SMEs in today’s competitive landscape.

Sustainable Operations

By promoting resource efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and minimising environmental impact, smart manufacturing aligns with the sustainability goals of small businesses. Embracing sustainable practices benefits the planet, enhances brand reputation, and attracts environmentally conscious customers, which is crucial for SMEs looking to differentiate themselves in the market.

Partnering with Concept Design Agency for Smart Manufacturing Solutions

As businesses embark on their smart manufacturing journey, partnering with experienced professionals becomes crucial. Concept Design Agencies are ready to assist, offering tailored smart manufacturing solutions to meet your needs and objectives.

Concept Design Agencies combine industry knowledge with technical expertise to design and implement smart manufacturing systems that deliver tangible business results. From initial consultation to ongoing support, they guide you through every step of the implementation process, ensuring seamless integration and maximum return on investment.

With a product design consultancy as your trusted partner, you can unlock the full potential of smart manufacturing and propel your business towards sustainable growth and success.

Smart manufacturing represents a fundamental shift in how businesses approach production and operations. By embracing advanced technologies and data-driven insights, companies can achieve new efficiency, agility, and competitiveness levels. Partnering with a Concept Design Agency enables businesses to navigate the complexities of smart manufacturing with confidence, driving sustainable growth. In the era of smart manufacturing, there is an opportunity to create a future where innovation thrives and businesses flourish.

Fresh Announce New EP, Drop New Single ‘Merch Girl’

London band Fresh have dropped ‘Merch Girl’, the first single from their upcoming EP of the same name, which is out April 19 via Get Better and Specialist Subject. Take a listen below.

“‘Merch Girl’ is about living in that space between wanting something and achieving something,” the band explained in a press release. “It’s kind of a character song, about somebody that is involved in music – but not in the way that they want to be, and they’re frustrated by that. At the beginning of the song, they’re watching from the sidelines, but as the song progresses they make the decision to create their own art. It’s a bit tongue-in-cheek, drawing from clichés of the wallflower, the sidekick, but ultimately it’s empowering and a reflection on the ways that we come into our own as women artists.”

Fresh’s last album was 2022’s Raise Hell.

Bodega Share Video for New Song ‘Cultural Consumer III’

Bodega have put out a new track titled ‘Cultural Consumer III’, taken from their upcoming album Our Brand Could Be Yr Life – ouy April 12 on Chrysalis. It comes with a video directed by Luca Balser, who also helmed the clips for previous singles ‘Tarkovski’ and ‘City is Taken’. Watch and listen below.

“The ‘cultural consumer’ is a character who has become essential to my songwriting for BODEGA,” vocalist Ben Hozie explained, “‘Cultural Consumer I’ was the first song I wrote where I feel like I found the songwriting voice for the band and the ‘cultural consumer’ showed up in the first BODEGA single ‘How Did This Happen?!’ in 2018. The cultural consumer is a middle class bohemian who is addicted to studying culture (both high art and pop culture) and is thus oppressed by it.”

“In ‘Cultural Consumer III’ he has become a new ager who is blasting a killer curated playlist in his car on the way to the airport to fly to a meditation retreat in Taiwan,” Hozie added. “Despite all of his consuming and questing for self-help, unlike Bob Dylan, he has never once ‘gazed upon the chimes of freedom flashing.’ He is just buying crap.”