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Snarls Release New Song ‘baby bangs’

Snarls have dropped a new single, ‘baby bangs’, from their forthcoming album With Love,. It follows the previously released tracks ‘Heavy Drinker’ and ‘Big Fish’. Listen below.

“It’s hard to understand why I care about what I look like more than who I am,” Chlo White sings on the track. In a press release, she explained: “That was a lyric I didn’t feel like I had to overthink, it was just true. Simultaneously, putting the pieces together as a band felt natural. When I brought the song to Mick’s basement, it wasn’t long before everyone was on the same page.”

With Love will arrive on May 3 on Take This To Heart Records. Revisit our Artist Spotlight interview with Snarls.

Ellis Shares New Single ‘it’ll be alright’

Ellis has unveiled a new single, ‘it’ll be alright’, lifted from her upcoming LP no place that feels like. It follows previous cuts ‘what i know now’ and ‘obliterate me’. Check it out via the accompanying video below.

“when i was writing ‘it’ll be alright’ i was thinking about all the parts of myself i have killed to appease other people,” Ellis explained in a statement. “i think i’ve learned that maybe some of those parts are better off dead, but other parts i will grieve the loss of forever. i dwell on the way i am perceived through someone else’s eyes (which can be a blessing or a curse depending on who’s eyes i’m looking through), and it can be very scary and disorienting when i’m forced to hold a mirror up and realise i don’t recognise myself in it. i’ve struggled with being overly critical of all of my past selves for the decisions that i’ve made, but i am slowly learning to look back at all of those selves with compassion and acknowledge the girl who was just trying her best.”

no place that feels like will be released on April 26.

Gastr del Sol Announce First Album in 26 Years, Release New Live Song

Gastr del Sol –  the Chicago experimental duo of David Grubbs and Jim O’Rourke – have announced their first album in 26 years, a career-spanning compilation titled We Have Dozens of Titles. Arriving May 24 via Drag City, the 3xLP collection brings together studio recordings and unreleased live performances from between 1993-1998 Check out a live version of ‘The Seasons Reversed’, from the band’s’s final show at the 1997 Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville, below.

We Have Dozens of Titles Cover Artwork:

We Have Dozens of Titles Tracklist:

1. The Seasons Reverse (live)
2. Quietly Approaching
3. Ursus Arctos Wonderfilis (live)
4. At Night and at Night
5. Dead Cats in a Foghorn
6. The Japanese Room at La Pagode
7. The Bells of St. Mary’s
8. Blues Subtitled No Sense of Wonder (live)
9. 20 Songs Less
10. Dictionary of Handwriting (live)
11. The Harp Factory on Lake Street
12. Onion Orange (live)

Ekko Astral Announce Debut Album ‘pink balloons’, Share New Single ‘devorah’

Ekko Astral have announced their debut album for Topshelf, pink balloons, sharing the single ‘devorah’ along with the news. The LP arrives on April 17, and it includes the previously shared song ‘baethoven’. Check out Kate the Cursed‘s video for ‘devorah’ below, along with the album cover (by Pablo Manriquez) and tracklist.

“This song is about empathizing with marginalized people in spite of the discomforts of capitalism and expressing gratitude to those who persevere through the worst our world can offer,” the band said in a statement. “The chorus is a reference to ‘missing and murdered indigenous persons’, a term often used to describe the high rate of killed and kidnapped Native Americans. It’s a reference to how our country doesn’t give any legal consent to the use of these peoples’ lands, but it is willing to express some form of verbal contrition for those who are gone too early…and what that says about how it treats all of its historically disadvantaged communities.”

pink balloons Cover Artwork:

pink balloons Tracklist:

1. head empty blues
2. “baethoven”
3. uwu type beat
4. on brand
5. somewhere at the bottom of a river between l’enfant plaza and eastern market
6. make me young
7. sticks and stones
8. buffaloed
9. devorah
10. burning alive on k st
11. i90 [feat. Josaleigh Pollett]

Blockchain seems to get more exposure in the world of photography

The photography sector has undergone a massive transformation in recent years, thanks to all the advancements of the last decade. One of the technologies that helped bring numerous improvements is blockchain. While originally the blockchain was created for cryptocurrencies and to help people understand how to buy Bitcoin at the best price possible, now this technology has found applications in various industries, including photography.

Blockchain is a distributed and decentralized ledger that records transactions with the help of nodes across several computers. It provides transparency, immutability, and security to digital assets. These characteristics also made blockchain ideal for the photography sector, where some issues have been identified over the years, including counterfeit products and infringement. 

Let’s learn more about blockchain technology and how it can benefit the photography industry. 

Image source: https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/happy-female-photographer-checking-images-digital-camera-while-working-night-studio_25744789.htm?query=creative%20photography#from_view=detail_alsolike#position=6&query=creative+photography#uuid 

What is blockchain?

Blockchain works on complex mechanisms, but the general concept is quite easy to grasp. This technology can be described as a decentralized data storage that prevents data from being manipulated, owned or controlled by a single central player. Because blockchain is based on transparency and trust, the information on the ledger is available to the general public. This reduces the chances of manipulation and fraud. 

For the photography industry, the blockchain can democratize the market and offer more opportunities to people from all around the world. 

How can the photography industry transform through blockchain?

  • Authenticating digital assets. One of the biggest issues photographers face is the unauthorized distribution and use of their work. But with blockchain, some of their problems could improve, as photographers will finally be able to authenticate their digital assets, thus ensuring that their rights are respected and their works remain protected. By using blockchain, each photo can be registered on the blockchain, thus having an immutable record of the usage and ownership history. In this way, artists can control their creative work more. 
  • Royalty management. With blockchain, photographers can also streamline their royalty management process. Blockchain enables the use of smart contracts, which represent self-executing contracts with the agreement’s terms written in code. Because of this fact, they can automatically distribute and track royalties to photographers when their work is sold or licensed. This has plenty of advantages as it eliminates the need for intermediaries and minimizes the changes of disputes and payment delays.
  • Copyright protection: Photographers face numerous challenges today, including copyright infringement, which happens when their pictures are shared or copied without consent. However, by using blockchain, artists could sign their work digitally, and only after that they would upload their image into the blockchain. This will create a tamper-proof and timestamped record, which will prove to be useful in proving the authenticity and originality of their work in case of disputes.
  • Ensuring transparency in licensing. Another quite complex process is licensing, which makes it challenging for artists to understand whether they receive fair compensation or how their work is being used. However, by using blockchain technology, the licensing transactions will be recorded on a transparent and open ledger that will allow artists to benefit from real-time visibility on how their work is used and licensed, thus ensuring they receive fair compensation and proper attribution. 

What are the advantages of blockchain in the photography industry?

Blockchain allows a better distribution of work for photographers. This technology can be an efficient and cheap infrastructure for all the artists to deliver their photography better. Creators could use blockchain to distribute work to new channels, monetize their creations and sell to buyers directly.

Here are all the advantages that blockchain could bring to the photography sector.

  • Enhanced security. Blockchain will offer improved security to artists by storing and encrypting their digital assets across numerous nodes. This makes it very difficult for hackers to steal or tamper with the photographs, thus maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of the photographer’s work. 
  • Authenticity and trust. Blockchain provides a trustless environment where artists can share their work without worrying about plagiarism or unauthorized use. With the decentralized nature of blockchain, there is no single point of failure. Moreover, the technology is tamper-proof, and the authenticity of the photographs’ work can be proven beyond doubt.
  • Better accessibility and global reach. Blockchain offers the possibility for photographers to expose their work to a worldwide audience without traditional gatekeepers or intermediaries in the way. Thus, creators can connect with collectors, buyers and art lovers from all over the world, offering new opportunities for monetization and exposure.
  • Transparent and immutable recordkeeping. Blockchain provides a transparent and immutable record of transactions, thus allowing photographers to keep track of the licensing history and the usage of their work. This helps with the enforcement of copyrights and also offers valuable insights into buyer preferences and market trends.
  • Streamlined payments. Blockchain uses smart contracts, which can automate the payment processes, thus ensuring photographers receive rightful earnings. Furthermore, blockchain can facilitate revenue sharing across numerous stakeholders involved in the photography sector, such as agents, models and publishers. 

The bottom line

Blockchain technology can revolutionize the photography industry by streamlining the processes in the photo value chain, protecting rights and providing the artist with better control over their work. Blockchain is characterized by transparency, security and immutability, and these attributes can be precious in the photography industry, as this sector deals with some issues currently, including unauthorized use and copyright infringement.

As an artist, it is crucial to stay updated with the latest technological advancements because, in this way, you can explore the advantages you can add to your creative pursuit. By embracing blockchain technology in photography, you will not only protect your work better but also benefit from opening doors to revenue generation, collaboration and global recognition.

So, what is your opinion on implementing blockchain technology in the photography industry?

Bullion Unveils New Song ‘Affection’

Bullion has shared the title track from his upcoming album Affection. It follows the producer and songwriter’s collaborative singles with Carly Rae Jepsen (‘Rare’) and Panda Bear (‘A City’s Never’). Check out a visual for ‘Affection’ below.

Affection is set to arrive on April 26 via Ghostly International.

 

 

Hovvdy Share New Single ‘Make Ya Proud’

Hovvdy have released ‘Make Ya Proud’, the final advance single from their upcoming self-titled album, which arrives on April 26. It follows previous offerings ‘Forever’, ‘Jean,’ ‘Bubba’, ‘Portrait’, and ‘Meant’. Check it out below.

“This is one of a few songs on the record I wrote for my grandpa Pete, my father’s father. He passed away last summer and was in many ways the backbone of that side of my family,” the duo’s Charlie Martin explained in a statement. “I wrote ‘Make Ya Proud’ during that time in Mississippi, between trips to the coast to visit him in the hospital. It’s really hard to describe; but the songs are a celebration of him and how he inspired me.”

Watch Waxahatchee Perform ‘Right Back to It’ With MJ Lenderman on ‘Colbert’

Waxahatchee was the musical guest on last night’s episode of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, where she was joined by MJ Lenderman for a performance of ‘Right Back to It’. Watch it below.

‘Right Back to It’ is the lead single from Waxahatchee’s new album Tigers Blood, which came out on Friday. The Saint Cloud follow-up also includes the early tracks ‘Bored’ and ‘365’.

Pond Announce New Album ‘Stung!’, Share New Single

Pond have announced a new album called Stung!, which lands on June 21 via Spinning Top. The follow-up to 2021’s 9 will include the previously released single ‘Neon River’, as well as a new track, ‘(I’m) Stung’, which comes with a shot in Western Australia by Chris Adams. Check it out and find the album cover, tracklist, and Pond’s upcoming tour dates below.

“I wrote most of this while mowing someone’s lawn,” the band’s Nicholas Allbrook said of ‘(I’m) Stung’ in a statement. “I went home and put my fingers on the piano and pretty much played the base of it first go. This is a very rare and special treat and buoyed me for weeks. It’s funny because I had a mad crush on someone, and they dropped me like a sack of shit and this song just flew down and clocked me right in the forehead and I felt totally better. Then Gin and Gum added all their magic – cool sounds, passing chords.”

“It’s about being totally pathetically stung by someone and just having to be cool with it being unrequited,” he added. “Being resilient, accepting that you are a bit of a goose, but life goes on.”

Commenting on the visual, the band added: “We went to Lancelin, one of the most stereotypically Western Australian looking places in Western Australia, armed with a super 8 camera, 12 tubes of silver body paint and a rock eisteddfod wardrobe. Nothing but the blistering heat and dehydration and a battalion of legendary holidaymakers in ATVs stood between us and cinema history. Our friend Chris Adams also put on his little “filmic auteur” cap and carried our shit around while we cavorted among the dunes dressed like a knock off NSYNC. Omg and the bee!! The bee obviously makes it. Nick kind of lost his mind in the endless whiteness and started fearfully battling the beast in the sky. Probably all the paint fumes.”

Stung! Cover Artwork:

Stung! Tracklist:

1. Constant Picnic
2. (I’m) Stung
3. Neon River
4. So Lo
5. Black Lung
6. Sunrise For The Lonely
7. Elf Bar Blues
8. Edge of the World Pt. 3
9. Stars In Silken Sheets
10. Boys Don’t Crash
11. O, UV Ray
12. Last Elvis
13. Elephant Gun
14. Fell From Grace With The Sea

Pond 2024 Tour Dates:

May 1 – Nashville, TN – The Basement East
May 2 – Asheville, NC – The Orange Peel
May 3 – Atlanta, GA – Shaky Knees Festival
May 4 – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West
May 7 – Austin, TX W Mohawk
May 8 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
May 9 – Dallas, TX – Trees
May 11 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre
May 12 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court Block Party
May 15 – Oakland, CA – The New Parish
May 16 – Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room
May 17 – San Diego, CA – The Observatory North Park
May 18 – Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory OC
Jun 14 – VIVID Sydney – Carriageworks
Jun 15 – Hobart, TAS – Altar
Jun 27 – Adelaide, SA – Lion Arts Factory
Jun 28 – Melbourne, VIC – Northcote Theatre
Jun 29 – Brisbane, QLD – Princess Theatre
Jul 06 – Fremantle, WA – Freo Social
Jul 20 – Byron Bay NSW – Splendour in the Gras
Sep 24 – Southampton, UK – Papillon
Sep 26 – Manchester, UK – Gorilla
Sep 27 – Leeds, UK – The Wardrobe
Sep 28 – Newcastle, UK – The Grove
Sep 29 – Glasgow, UK – King Tut’s Wah Wah
Oct 1 – Birmingham, UK – XOYO Birmingham
Oct 2 – Bristol, UK – Thekla
Oct 3 – London, UK – Scala
Oct 5 – Paris, FR – La Trabendo
Oct 6 – Brussels, BE – La Grand Salon, Botanique
Oct 7 – Amsterdam, NL – Paradiso
Oct 8 – Cologne, DE – Bürgerhaus Stollwerck
Oct 10 – Berlin, DE – Hole44
Oct 11 – Hamburg, DE – Fabrik
Oct 13 – Copenhagen, DK – Vega

Practices to attract and retain players implemented by online casinos

In an always-evolving world of online casinos, attracting and keeping players are the two important factors of any platform’s success.

This, in turn, makes the E-Gaming market a highly competitive field that requires several measures, from catching the audience’s attention to guaranteeing that the players stay enthralled and entertained.

On Our Culture Mag, we will explore some strategies used by these casinos to achieve these objectives.

Affiliate programs

There are two important functions of an affiliate program. Firstly, it allows existing casino users to create a network of new players, and secondly, players are now connected with the casino for a long time. Casino operators may engage players in actively spreading the word, so a new link between a player and the company is forged, and both come emotionally closer. It considerably reinforces customer loyalty and, at the same time, favors the achievement of sustainable growth of the online casino.

Advertising and sponsorship strategies

Along with advertising is the sponsorship strategy, which is important for an organization to appear on different platforms. Besides digital marketing, they also look for ways such as branding in well-known sports events and associating their products with reputable celebrities and influencers to increase their visibility. Such alliances, while on the one hand allowing the brand to be seen as respectable and dependable, further and on the other hand, seek to increase the level of confidence among the stakeholders.

Attractive offers and promotions

Offering players temporary bonuses and promotional prizes are the little things online casinos use to achieve their main goal of attracting new players and keeping them on their websites. Application to any of these deals you can be given, such as deposit bonuses, free spins, no deposit deals, and loyalty programs, which give you gifts as you are a constant player. In addition, promotions and bonuses are always continuously adapted. That is why specialized bonus sites such as casinobonusca allow players to stay up to date. The user must register in the newsletter to learn about all the benefits, new bonuses, or unavailable bonuses of the best casinos in the digital market.

Adaptability and accessibility

The ability to adapt and on-demand access are the most important underpinnings in the virtual gaming world. Casinos not only work hard to offer the best out of optimization for mobile phones but also take into consideration creating the most intuitive and smooth interfaces to meet players’ needs. This unique sense of being able to play something anytime, anywhere, is among the key factors that enable players to stay longer and access a more widespread and global customer base.

Use of social media

Communication with customers can be made more personal in addition to that. Social media provides an environment where each customer becomes part of the process, apart from just getting information. Online casinos use these channels to stage tournaments, keep offering special content, and follow players’ directions immediately and successfully. It is not surprising that players relish situations when they can participate in a conversation directed at them personally and that further contributes to creating a vivid and interesting community of virtual players.

Variety and quality of games

An extensive catalog of superior games should be incorporated to meet the desires of various players from different walks of life and keep their passion for playing the game alive. Online casinos must deliver an array of possibilities, including slot games, classic table games, multiplayer adventures such as live poker, and other specialty entertainment. However, games must be produced by software developers of a good name, and by the rules of fair standards, players can have thrilling and fair gaming.

Special events and tournaments

The unbeatable approach of organizing special events and tournaments with exciting awards can boost the players’ enthusiasm and competition. Such events can be anything from slot tournaments to live poker games or luxury prizes. By creating chances enabling players to battle for exciting rewards, online casinos come in, a community is created, and social gaming becomes more interactive. Likewise, special events can make the team of players stay in the game and be exhilarated, ultimately leading to long-term retention.

On the other hand, speedy customer service that is accessible round the clock via live chat clients, email, and phone channels is also an essential feature that online casinos should offer. Expert staff members help achieve player satisfaction and grow the level of credibility.

Transparency and security are paramount: transparent terms of use, secure transaction facilitation, and data protection enhance consumer trust in the platform. Making the rules understandable and adding bonus terms, besides using encryption and identity verification for transactions, are crucial factors. These norms affirm integrity and Privacy, which improves casino solidity.

The mentioned casinos can draw and maintain players through all of the strategic set-up interventions, which are promotional offers, affiliate programs, and a strong presence on social media.