Music

If anybody told me a few years ago that Awich, ONE OK ROCK, rapper CHICO CARLITO and progressive metalcore band Paledusk would form a music unit together, I would have called the idea intriguing but entirely far-fetched. Yet, at the end of June, that seemingly impossible idea became a reality. The artists blindsided fans with a coordinated Instagram post: a stark, monochromatic image emblazoned with "YAO." This was accompanied by a simple caption reading “We are YAO,” followed by a brand new Instagram handle. That same day, they took over the Red Bull MIC channel, premiering a collaborative performance video for the new Red Bull IN-YO! series. But just when I thought this might be a temporary crossover project, they made their official debut as YAO with their first single and music video, ...

Stone Island Sound has been on a run this summer. The techwear imprint has long been closely aligned with the sonic sphere, but recent months have signaled a greater focus on the label's audio arm. After working closely with Dave on an entirely custom, stage-ready Stone Island wardrobe for his The Boy Who Played The Harp World Tour, unveiling a slate of playlists billed as SOUND AS A FORM OF RESEARCH, and locking in on its custom vinyl releases, the label has lifted the veil on its next limited-edition release.The latest vinyl in the lineup is Sage Elsesser's latest Navy Blue studio project. Sir Render, which dropped back in June, marks one of the musician's most introspective works to date, its 15 tracks cemented in themes of duality, identity, and transformation.The motif at the core of ...