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Understanding the cultural impact of sports broadcasting with Bassbet Betting NZ

Our Culture Mag & Partners
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Understanding the cultural impact of sports broadcasting with Bassbet Betting NZ

Sports broadcasting has become more than just a way to watch games; it’s a cultural phenomenon shaping identities and communities. In the dynamic landscape of sports media, platforms like Bassbet exemplify how technology enhances fan engagement. By bridging geographic divides, sports broadcasting fosters a sense of global camaraderie among fans.

The rise of sports broadcasting as a cultural force is undeniable. With technological advancements such as high-definition feeds and instant replays, fans experience unprecedented access to live events. These innovations have broadened the cultural significance of sports, transforming them into shared global experiences. Platforms like Bassbet Betting NZ allow audiences to engage with sporting events in real-time, making every match an interactive spectacle.

Tracing the evolution of sports broadcasting

Technological innovation has played a pivotal role in transforming how fans consume sports. High-definition feeds and instant replays have elevated the viewing experience, making each game more immersive and engaging. On-demand services enable fans to catch up on missed matches at their convenience, further broadening the appeal of live sports coverage.

This evolution extends beyond mere entertainment; it has deeply influenced cultural significance. The ability to watch games in high-quality resolution brings fans closer to the action, enhancing their emotional connection to teams and players. Platforms like Bassbet have capitalized on these technological strides by offering real-time engagement opportunities for audiences.

Examining cultural influence and identity

Sports have a unique ability to form global fan communities centered around shared passions. Digital platforms play an instrumental role in fostering these connections by providing spaces for interaction and discussion. Fans from different corners of the world unite over their love for specific teams or athletes, creating a sense of belonging that transcends borders.

Bassbet betting NZ serves as an illustration of how digital platforms cultivate inclusive, worldwide audiences. By offering a variety of gambling and betting services, it allows users to place bets on various sports events from anywhere. This accessibility strengthens community bonds and amplifies the cultural impact of sports broadcasting.

Engaging communities through shared experiences

Sports have the power to transcend geographic boundaries and unite viewers from diverse cultures. Social media plays a crucial role in amplifying fandom by turning local matches into global discussions. These platforms enable fans to share their insights and emotions instantly, fostering lively interactions across continents.

Bassbet emphasizes the importance of accessible, user-friendly hubs that nurture community interactions. By providing a seamless platform for engagement, it ensures that fans can connect and share experiences effortlessly. This global exchange enriches the cultural tapestry of sports and highlights their universal appeal.

Looking ahead

The future of sports broadcasting promises even more exciting developments with technologies like virtual reality and interactive features on the horizon. These innovations will continue to shape fan experiences by offering immersive ways to enjoy games. As these technologies evolve, they will further enhance community building around shared sporting passions.

Platforms like Bassbet demonstrate the potential for ongoing evolution and cultural impact in the sports arena. By embracing technological advancements and fostering inclusive communities, they pave the way for a more connected and engaged fan base worldwide. The integration of new technologies will only deepen these connections, ensuring that sports remain a powerful cultural force for years to come.

Credit: depositphotos.com

Fashion Capitals of the World: What Makes Them So Influential?

Our Culture Mag & Partners
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Fashion Capitals of the World: What Makes Them So Influential?

The way people dress is a fascinating reflection of the local cultures and histories cities have undergone. Many of the bold statements major labels make end up sweeping the entire world, changing the clothing that’s bought and sold for decades. While there are emerging fashion hubs developing around the world, there are 4 undisputed leaders. All of these fashion hubs rely on testing out a lot of clothing mockups to boost sales rates. Clothing brands often acquire mockups free online to save them the initial labor.

Today, we are going to talk about the contributions these fashion hubs have made, what’s unique about them, and the historical contexts of those events. 

The criteria for a fashion capital

Fashion capitals are no mere cities with well-dressed individuals but powerhouses shaping global fashion trends, creativity, and industry. 

These are the main factors behind that:

  1. Large presence of major fashion houses and designers: these must be renowned industry leaders playing a pivotal role in setting trends and defining luxury. 
  2. Influence on global fashion trends: these are the places where groundbreaking styles are born.
  3. Hosting prestigious fashion weeks: serving as platforms for designers to unveil their latest collections.
  4. Extensive fashion education.
  5. Economic impact and consumer demand: a true fashion capital boasts a thriving fashion economy with high-end boutiques, department stores, and luxury retailers.

Paris

As far back as the 17th century, King Louis XIV’s court set a new standard for luxury and elegance. Then, later, in the 19th century, “haute couture”, or “high cutting” (“high fashion”) exploded, and Paris established for itself the status it still enjoys today.

The king’s court dictated new fashion trends and the textile industry flourished. Charles Fredrich Worth was then credited as the first true fashion designer, who pioneered the concept of designer labels and seasonal collections, a model which has since stuck around.

Paris has made many hit contributions to world fashion in that time. Some of the most significant among them include:

  • The little black dress: introduced by Coco Chanel in the 1920s, revolutionizing women’s wardrobes by offering a timeless, versatile, elegant staple.
  • The new look: Christian Dior’s 1947 fashion featured cinched waists, voluminous skirts, and a return to ultra-feminine silhouettes, shaping post-war fashion.
  • Le smoking suit: the first tuxedo suit was introduced for women in 1966.
  • Minimalist chic: the city has long been associated with effortless style, favoring clean lines and neutral tones.

Top fashion brands currently dominating Paris include such iconic names as:

  • Chanel
  • Dior
  • Louis Vuitton
  • Yves Saint Laurent
  • Balenciaga
  • Givenchy
  • Hermes

New York

New York City is known for its dynamic blend of innovation, business, and accessibility. The city differs from the previous fashion titan as the birthplace of ready-to-wear fashion, democratizing style and making fashion more accessible to the masses. With its fast-paced culture, diverse influences, and commercial success, the Big Apple has carved itself a role in the industry.

In the early 20th century, immigrants arriving there fueled the growth of the garment industry. The Garment District became the heart of American fashion manufacturing, producing large quantities of high-quality clothing, both stylish and practical. By mid-century, it began to push Europe for fashion dominance, catering to working women and everyday life. It launched the world’s first organized fashion week in 1943. 

Throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries, New York became synonymous with practical yet sophisticated style from the effortless sportswear of Ralph Lauren to the bold minimalism of Calvin Klein. The fashion landscape extended to a lot of streetwear, hip-hop culture, and contemporary designers who blur the lines between casual and high fashion. 

It is known for setting the following other fashion trends:

  • Power dressing: starting in the 1980s, it included structured blazers, tailored suits, and sleek silhouettes that became staples for female professionals.
  • Minimalism: the 1990s saw the rise of understated luxury with clean lines, neutral colors, and simple yet elegant designs.
  • Athleisure: the combination of athletic wear and casual fashion became a dominant trend in the 2010s. Nike and Kim Kardashian have recently struck a deal for a woman’s athleisure brand.
  • Influencer-driven fashion: with the presence of major fashion magazines, media hubs, and social media influencers.

New York is known for the following famous labels:

  • Ralph Lauren
  • Calvin Klein
  • Donna Karan
  • Michael Kors
  • Tommy Hilfiger
  • Marc Jacobs
  • Coach
  • Supreme 

Milan

The nation of Italy’s history goes all the way back to the Renaissance as it’s earned itself quite the reputation for its tailoring and textile production. The most prominent city there in that respect is Milan. The city excels at luxury ready-to-wear and high-end craftsmanship with sophisticated, stylish aesthetics.

During the Renaissance, Milan was engaged in producing a lot of silk and other textiles. Nevertheless, the metropolis didn’t really jump onto the fashion scene until after World War 2. At that time, Italy had strong manufacturing while Paris had suffered more from the war. By the 70s and 80s it had earned significant respect for ready-to-wear items. Milan’s Fashion Week was established in 1958 and to this day it remains one of the most prestigious cities in the world for fashion.

Fashion trends

Designers like Giorgio Armani and Dolce & Gabbana mastered the art of making luxury fashion accessible. The city is known for its incredible fashion quality. 

Here are some of the trends it set:

  • Power suits: along with New York, it popularized business attire during the 1980s, reinventing suits as soft, deconstructed power suits featuring an effortlessly chic edge.
  • Opulent prints and bold designs: Gianni Versace transformed fashion with his use of vibrant colors, baroque patterns, and sensual cuts.
  • Refined minimalism: Prada and Bottega Veneta helped contribute to minimalism as New York did.
  • Italian leather craftsmanship: leather has been one of Milan’s forte with brands like Gucci and Ferragamo setting the standard for luxury handbags, shoes, and accessories.
  • Glamorous evening wear: Valentino and Roberto Cavalli defined the concept of red-carpet glamour with flowing gowns and timeless femininity.

Top fashion brands

Some of the most renowned Milan-based fashion brands are:

  • Giorgia Armani
  • Versace
  • Prada
  • Dolce & Gabbana
  • Gucci
  • Bottega Veneta
  • Valentino
  • Salvatore Ferragamo

London

This city, in contrast to the others, takes a rather rebellious attitude toward fashion. It isn’t afraid to be weird while still remaining traditional as well as resourceful. You have to expect the unexpected with this city. This is where the punk fashion trend started as well as mod. London always wants to push the envelope and try new things. Thus, the city enjoys playing by its own rules.

Fashion trends set in London

The trends that the city has set have continued to go right against convention and redefine what style is. Here are some of its most iconic contributions:

  • The miniskirt revolution: Mary Quant invented them in the 1960s, which symbolized female liberation and became one of the era’s biggest developments.
  • Punk fashion: ripped clothing, safety pins, leather jackets, and anarchic aesthetics blew up in the 1970s and have remained since.
  • New wave & goth aesthetics: it was at the heart of the alternative fashion scene in the 1980s, blending dark, theatrical elements with music and art.
  • Experimental fashion: designers like Alexander McQueen redefined runway fashion with dramatic, art-inspired collections that blurred the line between clothing and performance art.
  • Heritage tailoring meeting modernity.

Top fashion brands

Here are some of its fashion leaders:

  • Burberry
  • Alexander McQueen
  • Vivienne Westwood
  • Stella McCartney
  • JW Andersson
  • Paul Smith
  • Victoria Beckham
  • Erdem

Photo credit: depositphotos.com

15 New Songs to Listen to Today: Model/Actriz, Jenny Hval, and More

Konstantinos Pappis
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15 New Songs to Listen to Today: Model/Actriz, Jenny Hval, and More

There’s so much music coming out all the time that it’s hard to keep track. On those days when the influx of new tracks is particularly overwhelming, we sift through the noise to bring you a curated list of the most interesting new releases (the best of which will be added to our Best New Songs playlist). Below, check out our track roundup for Tuesday, February 25, 2025.

Model/Actriz – ‘Cinderella’

Model/Actriz have announced their sophomore album, Pirouette, with the dynamically radiant and frantic ‘Cinderella’. The track “distills within it many of the objectives that would become the lifeblood of Pirouette,” vocalist Cole Haden explained. “The song switches between moments of tension and fluidity, dissonance and harmony: we aimed to write something with an inherent brightness that differed anything we had made before, and the light that shines through the song was made not through removing darkness, but through upping the contrast. The lyrics were written in response to that canvas, and give voice to an inner dialogue I once had while on a date with a beautiful man. It’s a song about the realization that there was shame and pain I carried long after it had become obsolete, and while it was uncertain if I would ever see this person again, I could remember him always as the mysterious catalyst that released me from it.”

Jenny Hval – ‘To be a rose’

Jenny Hval has announced a new album, Iris Silver Mist, sharing ‘To be arose’ along with the news. “’To be a rose’ was written as a restless pop structure,” Hval explained in a statement, treating both that structure and the titular cliché with signature playfulness. “It has a chorus, with chords and a melody, but each chorus sounds slightly different, like we are experiencing the melody from different seasons, decades or even different bodies. The clichéd rose metaphor in the song is equally restless. It can change shape into a cigarette and then evaporate to smoke. My mother and I (two restless humans) are both present in the song: ‘I was singing in my room, she smoked on the balcony/Long inhales and long exhales performed in choreography.’ If about anything, ‘To be a rose’ is about how one thing becomes another thing, how we all come from somewhere and someone, and how this is stranger and more powerful than we think.”

Marlon Williams – ‘Kāhore He Manu E’ [feat. Lorde]

Lorde guests on ‘Kāhore He Manu E’, a stirring new ballad from New Zealand singer-songwriter Marlon Williams’ upcoming Māori language album, Te Whare Tīwekaweka. Lorde’s voice, Williams said, “in a very real sense wrote the song. The distinct and striking characteristics in her voice cornering and demanding of the melody and phrasing what only her voice could. Singing with Ella is incredible; the amount of mind she’s able to pour into the vessel. We got to know each other through sharing the highs and lows of touring life, and in a real sense this song is an ode to the colourful but grim wormhole of road life, to the friends made and lost in the folds of time, ‘visions lost in the blur.’” Lorde added: “Singing with Marlon is one of my favourite things to do on earth, whether we are tipsy backstage by a pool table or in a luscious studio, and I was honoured he asked me to sing with him on this album. I’m so proud of my friend.”

Momma – ‘Bottle Blonde’

‘I Want You (Fever)’, the previous single off Momma’s upcoming album Welcome to My Blue Sky, made our list of the best songs of January. The newly unveiled ‘Bottle Blonde’ is softer and more self-reflective; “Bottle blonde, you’re a god/ You’re gonna figure it out,” “Bottle blonde, you’re a god/ You’re gonna figure it out,” Friedman and Weingarten sing on the track. “We wrote this song as a letter to our past selves, when we were 23 and 24, stumbling through an extremely grueling tour that ended up taking a huge toll on our hearts and minds,” they explained. “We both had bleached hair and were in the midst of making huge decisions that would change our lives and also our perceptions of ourselves. The song started out as kind of an affirmation to our younger selves, that everything would be OK if you just follow your heart, but now looking back on it the lyrics could also be read as us talking to each other.”

Sparks – ‘JanSport Backpack’

Sparkshave shared their details of their 28th studio album MAD!, arriving May 23, with the playful and theatrical ‘JanSport Backpack’. It follows the recently released ‘Do Things My Own Way’.

Darkside – ‘Hell Suite (Part II)’

For a song called ‘Hell Suite’, the latest single from Darkside emanates a strange sense of serenity. In fact, it’s one of the most gorgeously arranged songs on their new album Nothing, which comes out Friday.

Deafheaven – ‘Heathen’

Deafheaven have previewed their upcoming LP Lonely People With Power with ‘Heathen’, which starts out mellower than the harrowing lead single ‘Magnolia’. Stick around, though, and you’re in for a (heavy) treat.

Lily Seabird – ‘How Far Away’ and ‘It Was Like You Were Coming To Wake Us Back Up’

Lily Seabird has unveiled a pair of tracks from her forthcoming record Trash Mountain. “‘How Far Away’ closes Side A of Trash Mountain and ‘It Was Like…’ opens Side B, but they’re about the same subject, so it’s nice to have them paired together today,” Seabird said of the songs, which are both tenderly understated. “The videos were captured in New Orleans last month during a record snowstorm. I was visiting with one of my best friends — it felt funny that we seemed to have brought the weather with us from Vermont.”

Swans – ‘I Am a Tower’

‘I Am a Tower’ is the title of Swans’ epic new single, which sprawls ominously over 20 minutes. It’s the first single off their seventeenth studio album, Birthing, due May 30. “The material contained in this album was largely developed over the course of a yearlong Swans tour, during 2023 – 2024 (‘The Healers’, ‘I Am a Tower’, ‘Birthing’, ‘Guardian Spirit’, ‘Rope’, and ‘Away’), then recorded and further orchestrated and rearranged in the studio. Two pieces were created and performed in the studio (‘Red Yellow’, ‘The Merge’),” Michael Gira shared. “In all cases the material began with me sitting in my office with an acoustic guitar, singing and dreaming about what would become of these skeletal songs.”

Miki Berenyi Trio – ‘Big I Am’

Miki Berenyi Trio take aim at macho aggression on their pointedly danceable new single, ‘Big I Am’, which will appear on their debut LP Tripla. “I’ve witnessed 50+ years of the trends in masculinity and frankly, nothing much changes — as ever, there are good men and there are shit men, and there are boys who can be misguided but easily mature into the best of their sex,” Berenyi commented. “But this latest incarnation of ‘winning’ the sex war is a laughably infantile and willfully regressive new low.”

Demise of Love – ‘Strange Little Consequence’

Demise of Love is the new collaborative project from three very talented artists in UK dance music: Daniel Avery, Working Men’s Club (Sydney Minsky-Sargeant), and Ghost Culture (James Greenwood). Today, they’ve shared the first single from their self-titled debut EP, the burbling and kaleidoscopic ‘Strange Little Consequence’. Jak Payne, who directed the song’s music video, said, “We wanted to create something really visually driven for this. A visual that gestures towards the breakdown of a relationship, through the clutter and detritus that is left behind.”

Clothing – ‘Tóxico Saico’

Clothing, aka Mexico City-based artist Santi Ropa, has dropped ‘Toxico Saico’, a heartfelt new single from their debut album La Muerte en Realidad no Exist. According to Ropa, “This is a painfully honest song that deals with the blurred line between love and hate. No one is spared—only those you love the most can really hurt you.”

Lucy Rose – ‘Pale Blue Eyes’

Lucy Rose has shared a new single, the jazzy, beautifully swirling ‘Pale Blue Eyes’, the singer-songwriter’s first new music since last year’s This Ain’t The Way You Go Out. “The song, it’s a tricky one, took me a while to figure out what I wanted to say,” Rose reflected. “The chorus is very much about that one person who kept me believing in myself at my lowest time, who was of course my little boy. When I felt like my body was failing and no one around me believed me, he still loved me for me.”

Bria Salmena – ‘Hammer’

“I’ve never seen you in the morning light/ I’ve never seen you as you close your eyes/ But I want to,” Bria Salmena sings on ‘Hammer’, which is brooding before it becomes bracingly vulnerable. It’s the second single from her debut solo album Big Dog. “I’ve been struggling lately to find some light, to find strength in this current global dumpster fire,” Salmena explained. “My personal troubles aside I feel as though this song resonates in a different way to me now. Whether I realized it or not, ‘you are a hammer’ and ‘you are a big dog’ became words of encouragement for myself, and in a way, the mantra for the record.”

Lorde Joins Marlon Williams on New Single ‘Kāhore He Manu E’

Konstantinos Pappis
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0
Lorde Joins Marlon Williams on New Single ‘Kāhore He Manu E’

New Zealand singer-songwriter Marlon Williams has teamed up with Lorde for a new song, ‘Kāhore He Manu E’. It’s lifted from Williams’ first Māori language album, Te Whare Tīwekaweka, which was led by last month’s ‘Aua Atu Rā’. It also comes with an accompanying video taken from Ngā Ao E Rua – Two Worlds, Ursula Grace Williams’ documentary about the making of the record. Check it out below.

“‘Kāhore He Manu E’ was one of those gentle labours,” Williams said in a statement. “It played itself out to me, easily and near complete from the first. It was also obvious who should be singing it; Ella’s voice in a very real sense wrote the song. The distinct and striking characteristics in her voice cornering and demanding of the melody and phrasing what only her voice could. Singing with Ella is incredible; the amount of mind she’s able to pour into the vessel. We got to know each other through sharing the highs and lows of touring life, and in a real sense this song is an ode to the colourful but grim wormhole of road life, to the friends made and lost in the folds of time, ‘visions lost in the blur.’”

Lorde added: “Over the course of several years I watched Marlon pull at the threads that became Te Whare Tīwekaweka. I saw that the further he got into the album, the deeper my friend came to know himself, his whānau and his world at large. Marlon is an undercover perfectionist, and he was never going to embark on this journey without turning over every stone, crafting complex waiata that speak to the past while also braiding in his characteristic humour and X-ray vision. Singing with Marlon is one of my favourite things to do on earth, whether we are tipsy backstage by a pool table or in a luscious studio, and I was honoured he asked me to sing with him on this album. I’m so proud of my friend.”

Te Whare Tīwekaweka is set for release on April 4.

Model/Actriz Announce New Album ‘Pirouette’, Share New Song

Konstantinos Pappis
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0
Model/Actriz Announce New Album ‘Pirouette’, Share New Song

New York-based band Model/Actriz have announced their sophomore album, Pirouette, which lands May 2 via True Panther. The follow-up to 2023’s Dogsbody is led by the dynamically frenetic and luminous ‘Cinderella’, which arrives with a visual directed by Nathan Castiel. Check it out below, and scroll down for the album cover and tracklist.

“’Cinderella’ distills within it many of the objectives that would become the lifeblood of Pirouette,” vocalist Cole Haden explained in a press release. “The song switches between moments of tension and fluidity, dissonance and harmony: we aimed to write something with an inherent brightness that differed anything we had made before, and the light that shines through the song was made not through removing darkness, but through upping the contrast. The lyrics were written in response to that canvas, and give voice to an inner dialogue I once had while on a date with a beautiful man. It’s a song about the realization that there was shame and pain I carried long after it had become obsolete, and while it was uncertain if I would ever see this person again, I could remember him always as the mysterious catalyst that released me from it.”

Co-produced and mixed by Seth Manchester, Pirouette finds Haden channelling childhood heroes like Britney Spears and Mariah Carey. Model/Actriz have also announced a tour in support of the record, which will take them across the US, Canada, the UK, and Europe.

Pirouette Cover Artwork:

Pirouette Tracklist:

1. Vespers
2. Cinderella
3. Poppy
4. Diva
5. Headlights
6. Acid Rain
7. Departures
8. Audience
9. Ring Road
10. Doves
11. Baton

Model/Actriz 2025 Tour Dates:

Mar 1 – Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall Free For All
May 6 – San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Stop
May 8 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
May 9 – Vancouver, BC – The Pearl
May 10 – Seattle, WA – Madame Lou’s
May 12 – Santa Cruz, CA – Catalyst Atrium
May 13 – Los Angeles, CA – The Roxy
May 16 – Washington, DC – The Atlantis
May 17 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
May 19 – Boston, MA – Deep Cuts
May 20 – Kingston, NY – Tubby’s
May 22 – Brooklyn, NY – Good Room
May 31 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz*
June 2 – Cleveland, OH – Globe Iron*
June 3 – Toronto, ON – HISTORY*
June 13 – London, UK – Lido Festival
June 14 – Manchester, UK – Outbreak Festival
June 16 – Brussels, BE – Rotonde Botanique
June 17 – Paris, FR – Petit Bain
June 19-21 – Lisbon, PT – Kalorama Festival
June 20-21 – Madrid, ES – Kalorama Festival

* supporting Panchiko

Jenny Hval Announces New Album, Unveils New Single ‘To be a rose’

Konstantinos Pappis
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0
Jenny Hval Announces New Album, Unveils New Single ‘To be a rose’

Jenny Hval has announced a new album, Iris Silver Mist, which is due for release on May 2. The follow-up to the Norwegian artist’s 2022 LP Classic Objects is led by the single ‘To be a rose’. The track arrives with a music video, edited by Jenny Merger Myhre, that’s composed of footage shot on various tours from 2015-2024. Check it out and find the album cover and tracklist below.

‘To be a rose’ is subtly yet relentlessly shapeshifting tune, one that treats its pop format and titular metaphor with Hval’s signature playfulness. “’To be a rose’ was written as a restless pop structure,” Hval explained in a statement. “It has a chorus, with chords and a melody, but each chorus sounds slightly different, like we are experiencing the melody from different seasons, decades or even different bodies. The clichéd rose metaphor in the song is equally restless. It can change shape into a cigarette and then evaporate to smoke. My mother and I (two restless humans) are both present in the song: ‘I was singing in my room, she smoked on the balcony/Long inhales and long exhales performed in choreography.’ If about anything, ‘To be a rose’ is about how one thing becomes another thing, how we all come from somewhere and someone, and how this is stranger and more powerful than we think.”

About the visual, Myhre added, “Often we performed on stages or in places that had no screen, or even no projector. As a result, what I filmed would often not be visible for the audience, and so the act of filming became the performance. Using an old VHS-C-camera, I would film parts of the shows as a ritual of seeing and being seen. When we did have a screen, the camera was directly outputting to the video projector, and I loved the moment of going from ‘live footage’ to rewinding into backstage moments, preparations, and previous shows, allowing time travel to happen in real time.”

The origins of Iris Silver Mist date back to the pandemic, when the absence of live music led to Hval’s growing interest in perfumes. The album is named after a fragrance made by the nose Maurice Roucel for the French perfume house Serge Lutens, which is described by a press release “as smelling more like steel than silver. It is cold and prickly, soft and shimmering, like stepping outside on an early, misty morning, your body still warm from sleep. A perfume, with its heart notes and scented accords, shares its language with music. Both travel through air, simultaneously invisible and distinct.”

Iris Silver Mist Cover Artwork:

Iris Silver Mist Tracklist:

1. Lay down
2. To be a rose
3. I want to start at the beginning
4. All night long
5. Heiner muller
6. You died
7. Spirit mist
8. I don’t know what free is
9. The artist is absent
10. Huffing my arm
11. The gift
12. A ballad
13. I want the end to sound like this

Shaoxiong: Redefining Motion Design and 3D Art on the Global Stage

Abbie Wilson
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Shaoxiong: Redefining Motion Design and 3D Art on the Global Stage

In the motion world of digital artistry, Shaoxiong stands out as a visionary motion designer and 3D artist whose work seamlessly fuses technical brilliance with profound emotional depth. His work reflects a rare blend of artistic talent and innovative spirit, earning him international acclaim and numerous prestigious awards.

Shaoxiong’s independent films delve deeply into the complexities of human emotions, memory, and relationships. His celebrated short film An Autumn Dusk’s Dream delicately portrays the ethereal reunion of a deceased grandfather and his grandson, weaving memory and familial love into a visual poem. Using a warm color palette and hand-crafted textures, the film evokes nostalgia and the ephemeral nature of life. The meticulously animated sequences, where falling autumn leaves transform into fleeting memories, highlight Shaoxiong’s mastery of visual metaphors. This poignant work has received top honors, including Best Animation at the New York International Film Awards (NYIFA), the Independent Shorts Awards, and the Canadian Cinematography Awards.

Equally notable is Bear with Me, where Shaoxiong embraces a vibrant, cartoony aesthetic to humorously explore the nuances of romantic relationships. The film’s playful character animations are juxtaposed with intimate storytelling, capturing everyday tensions and tender reconciliations between couples. His creative use of exaggerated motion and expressive facial animations not only heightens the comedic effect but also reveals the underlying emotional truths of companionship. The film’s international recognition includes Best Animated Short at the Independent Shorts Awards and Best Animation at the Los Angeles Film Awards.

Beyond his independent creations, Shaoxiong has left an indelible mark on commercial motion design. At China’s leading creative firm SeenVision, he led major projects for global tech brands like Huawei, Xiaomi, OPPO, and OnePlus. His direction of the VIVO X50 Pro x Alexander Wang commercial film seamlessly merged high fashion with cutting-edge technology. The video’s fluid transitions and precise rendering captivated global audiences and garnered widespread acclaim on platforms like Behance.

Since joining the prestigious creative design company ManvsMachine in 2022, Shaoxiong has contributed to high-profile campaigns for Apple, Microsoft, Logitech, and Sephora. His work on Valvoline’s Restore & Protect campaign was celebrated for its dynamic motion design and innovative use of photorealistic textures, earning a Gold Award from Creativepool. The Sephora 2024 holiday brand campaign, featuring naked-eye 3D animation projected on New York’s Times Square screens, redefined public space engagement through motion graphics. Shaoxiong’s contributions to the project involved crafting seamless transitions between digital elements and physical environments, creating a captivating visual experience that drew massive public attention.

Guided by the belief that “Man is by nature a social animal,” Shaoxiong aims to craft visual experiences that resonate deeply across cultures and languages. His work transcends conventional boundaries, merging fine arts and commercial design to evoke universal emotions while setting new standards in visual communication. His unique ability to translate intangible feelings into compelling visuals continues to push the frontiers of animation and motion design. As Shaoxiong expands his artistic journey, he is not merely creating art; he is shaping a legacy that speaks to the very core of human experience.

Love Is Blind Season 9: Cast, Rumours & Release Date

Alexandra Pleșa
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0
Love Is Blind Season 9: Cast, Rumours & Release Date

Can an emotional connection outweigh physical attraction? Love Is Blind has been trying to answer that question ever since it premiered back in 2020.

A wildly successful dating series, it consistently ranks among Netflix’s most-watched titles. There’s something particularly captivating about following along as strangers bond. Plus, each episode sparks fascinating discussions about love, attraction, and modern dating.

While season 8 of the reality show is in full swing at the time of writing, fans are already wondering if there will be more. Given the show’s popularity, you can bet on it.

Love Is Blind Season 9 Release Date

First, the good news: Netflix has already renewed the reality series for season 9 and season 10. That said, with season 8 currently ongoing, there’s no news yet on when Love Is Blind Season 9 might drop.

Still, if we take a look at the show’s release pattern, we can make an educated guess. Netflix tends to release two seasons each year – one in February/March, the second in September/October.

In other words, you can expect season 9 to hit streaming sometime during early fall 2025.

Love Is Blind Season 9 Cast

The show is hosted by Nick and Vanessa Lachey, but a potential cast for season 9 hasn’t been announced yet.

The company behind the series, Kinetic Content, did announce a virtual casting call for singles in the New England area late last year, so that might give you an idea of where the participants will be from.

What Is Love Is Blind About?

Love Is Blind is romance, drama, and social experiment all in one. The idea is fairly simple: contestants date and get engaged all without ever seeing each other.

Instead of going on traditional dates, they communicate through isolated “pods,” where they attempt to build an emotional connection without the influence of physical appearance. If a couple wants to get engaged, they meet face-to-face and move in together. Once that’s done, they have to navigate real-world challenges like family expectations, finances, and compatibility.

The show culminates in a wedding, where each person decides at the altar whether to say “I do.”

Are There Other Shows Like Love Is Blind on Netflix?

Love Is Blind has multiple spin-offs set all over the world, in countries like Japan, Germany, Mexico, and Sweden. Love Is Blind UK premiered last year, and was renewed for a second season set to drop sometime in 2025.

For an extra dose of romance, similar reality shows on Netflix include Too Hot to Handle, The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On, The Circle, and Dating Around.

Cobra Kai Season 7: Cast, Rumours & Release Date

Alexandra Pleșa
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Cobra Kai Season 7: Cast, Rumours & Release Date

Cobra Kai never dies. Unfortunately, the hit Netflix series might just be over. For now, at least.

After six successful seasons, the show came to an end in 2025, with a satisfying conclusion that brought the main story full circle. Even so, fans are demanding more – and there’s still a chance they might get it.

Cobra Kai Season 7 Release Date

As Netflix announced back in 2023, season 6 would be the final season of the series. Thankfully, it was a supersized installment of 15 episodes which came out in three parts, with Part 3 dropping on February 13, 2025.

“It’s really exciting to be able to finish what we started in a way that has intent as opposed to just being told ‘No more Cobra Kai,’ and the fans are left with an incomplete story,” showrunner Jon Hurwitz told Den of Geek.

While Cobra Kai concluded, however, the Miyagiverse is still going strong. A new movie, Karate Kid: Legends, is coming out on May 30, 2025. Set three years after the Cobra Kai finale, it will star Jackie Chan as Mr. Han and Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso.

Additionally, Cobra Kai is resilient. The series kicked off on YouTube Red/Premium prior to being picked up by Netflix. It quickly built a devoted following, so there’s always a chance it will be revived again somewhere down the line. Or, perhaps, develop a spin-off?

Cobra Kai Cast

  • Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso
  • William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence
  • Courtney Henggeler as Amanda LaRusso
  • Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz
  • Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene

What Is Cobra Kai About?

Cobra Kai continues the story of the iconic Karate Kid films.

Set decades after the original movies, it follows Johnny Lawrence, former high school bully, currently struggling in life. He reopens the Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso, now a successful businessman.

Viewers can follow along as Johnny trains a new generation of students, including Miguel Diaz, a bullied teen who becomes his star pupil. Daniel, meanwhile, mentors troubled youth like Robby Keene, who happens to be Johnny’s estranged son.

The series resonates with fans thanks to its exploration of themes like redemption and rivalry. It also wins bonus points for its martial arts scenes and for expertly blending nostalgia with fresh storylines.

Plus, the relationship between Johnny and Daniel evolves along the way, making Cobra Kai particularly endearing.

Is Cobra Kai Based on a Book?

No, the series is a sequel to the original The Karate Kid films from the ‘80s.

If you’d like to learn more about the making of the franchise, you can pick up Macchio’s memoir, Waxing On: The Karate Kid and Me, which came out in 2022.

Sick Note Season 3: Cast, Rumours & Release Date

Alexandra Pleșa
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Sick Note Season 3: Cast, Rumours & Release Date

Black comedy Sick Note is currently enjoying a surge in popularity among Netflix subscribers. The show, which originally came out in 2017, has an intriguing premise and stars Rupert Grint in the main role. You might know him from a little franchise called Harry Potter.

The problem? The show’s first two seasons only consist of 14 episodes, which you can easily binge in a couple of days. If you’re wondering what’s next and whether you’ll get more, you’re not the only one.

Sick Note Season 3 Release Date

Unfortunately, there’s no news on a potential third season of Sick Note at the time of writing.

The first season of the show came out on Sky One in the UK in 2017, with the second debuting in 2018. Since then, the series hasn’t been officially canceled, but neither did new episodes hit the air.

Back in 2021, creator Nat Saunders tweeted that the Sick Note was in limbo and “unlikely to come back.”

The actors also seem to have moved on. Rupert Grint appeared in The ABC Murders and Apple TV+ show Servant, as well as 2023 horror movie Knock at the Cabin.

Nick Frost, meanwhile, appeared in multiple TV shows and movies since Sick Note. The list includes Why Women Kill and Get Away.

That said, never say never. If the stars align, we might still get Sick Note Season 3 somewhere down the line.

Sick Note Cast

  • Rupert Grint as Daniel Glass
  • Nick Frost as Dr. Iain Glennis
  • Don Johnson as Kenny West
  • Pippa Bennett-Warner as Becca Palmerstone
  • Marama Corlett as Linda
  • Lindsay Lohan as Katerina West (season 2)

What Is Sick Note About?

In Sick Note, Grint plays Daniel, a compulsive liar stuck in a dead-end job. He’s struggling in his personal life too, which doesn’t make things any better. Then, he’s misdiagnosed with a terminal illness by the incompetent Dr. Glennis.

To his surprise, the diagnosis makes everyone around Daniel treat him better. Instead of coming clean, he keeps up the ruse, with absurd consequences. Not only that, but Dr. Glennis becomes entangled in Daniel’s deception, desperate to cover up his medical blunder. Chaos ensues.

The series blends dark humor with satire in expert fashion, which makes it a must-watch for fans of black comedies. Unfortunately, the second season ends with many questions unanswered. Who knows if we’ll ever get to find out what might have happened next?

Is Sick Note Based on a Book?

No, the show is based on an original idea and it was created and written by Nat Saunders and James Serafinowicz.

If you like their vibe, they also worked on Truth Seekers, a paranormal comedy that also stars Nick Frost alongside Samson Kayo, Emma D’Arcy, and Simon Pegg.

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