On December 2, 2022, Kim Namjun, the 28-year-old leader of the South Korean boy band BTS, who goes by the moniker “RM,” released his debut solo album Indigo. For RM, who started putting out his music on online hip-hop communities under the pseudonym of Runch Randa in 2007, this album has taken 15 years to materialize. In that time, he changed his name twice (from Runch Randa to Rap Monster before settling with RM), made his debut with BTS as the leader of the boy band, achieved worldwide superstardom, and rewrote K-pop history. He is now back as a solo artist with an album that commemorates the end of his twenties (In Korea, newborns are considered 1 year old at birth and turn a year older on January 1 rather than on their birthday. RM would be turning 30 in Korean age on January 1, 2023 a...
Diego Calva starred alongside the likes of Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie in Damien Chazelle’s new feature film, Babylon, whose stellar performance has earned the emerging actor a Golden Globe Nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy/Musical. The Mexican actor started his career back in his home country, where he appeared in independent and critically acclaimed films such as Te Prometo Anarquía (Julio Hernández, 2015). Calva’s talent was recognized through a series of roles in local Netflix productions, which eventually led him to be part of the Narcos: Mexico cast. In landing his role for Babylon, Calva endured a grueling process of casting and preparation led by the Academy Award Winner director, Damien Chazelle, who previously produced critically acclaimed features such as La...
I attempted to spend two weeks travelling in El Salvador living on Bitcoin. I tried to pay for every single thing with Bitcoin, or Satoshis, small amounts of Bitcoin. Spoiler alert, I failed. Outfoxed by car hire companies (fortunately my car of choice was not Fiat); stubborn restauranteurs, a parking meter, pupusas, and a fancy dress shop where I was obliged to purchase a multicoloured wig with a $5 bill, I could not survive in “Bitcoin Country” on Bitcoin alone. So where did I go wrong? How did this happen? Isn’t El Salvador supposed to be Bitcoin Country? Is Bitcoin broken? Am I a scammer? First up, there’s no denying: El Salvador is unashamedly a Bitcoin destination. From Bitcoin conferences, big name Bitcoiners, ubiquitous “Bitcoin accepted here” signs, a laser eyed ...
It may have taken SZA more than five years to release her second studio album, but for Jas Bell — a.k.a. Leonardo Chop, her design lead and art director as well as the founder of streetwear brand Hazelwood — the work never stopped. There’s no denying that the gap between Ctrl, SZA’s debut album, and the recently-released SOS is lengthy, but Bell doesn’t see it that way. Instead, they utilized the TDE stalwart’s unique artistry to build “massive moments” sprinkled across that five-year interlude. “‘Good Days’ was a moment. ‘I Hate U’ was a moment. When we released the Ctrl five-year anniversary stuff, that was a moment,” Bell explains. “SZA’s a gem in a way that these moments she’s created carry us through eras. There’s always inspiration flowing, and we’re always creating.” Through Bell’s ...
It’s pouring rain in New York City the day ATEEZ sit down with Consequence. We meet on Madison Avenue; the members — Hongjoong, Seonghwa, Yunho, Yeosang, San, Mingi, Wooyoung and Jongho — are snapping photos in front of the glittering holiday decor before our conversation, unbothered by the gloom. They’ve been in the city for a full week at this point, wrapping up a string of stateside concerts on their second world tour of 2022, which means they had the day off on Thanksgiving. “In the morning, we went to SoHo,” shares Seonghwa. “But every store was closed. It was really funny.” Instead, he ended up with Hongjoong and Yunho, searching for the best lookout point to see the Statue of Liberty. San chimes in with the New York itinerary as well. “I went to the Empire State Building, and T...
There’s a certain reverence linked with Abbey Road Studios. It’s one of the most famous recording studios on the planet, and a household name, having welcomed such greats as The Beatles, Pink Floyd, John Williams, Oasis, and so many more. It’s also the namesake of The Beatles’ final — and arguably best — record. Its iconic album artwork, taken on the street opposite the studios, continues to inspire thousands of fans to make a pilgrimage to London themselves and recreate their own tribute. If These Walls Could Sing is the debut documentary feature by Mary McCartney, daughter of Paul McCartney, and it is her love letter to a recording space that her father still has such an intimate connection with, a place that she herself calls home. Featuring interviews with the musical greats who have c...
Song of the Week breaks down and talks about the song we just can’t get out of our head each week. Find these songs and more on our Spotify Top Songs playlist. For our favorite new songs from emerging artists, check out our Spotify New Sounds playlist. This week, Rosalía and Cardi B stave off winter blues with a reimagined version of MOTOMAMI+ cut “DESPECHÁ.” Good news, everyone: Rhe MOTOMAMI era doesn’t appear to be ending any time soon. Rosalía has recruited Cardi B for a new remix of “DESPECHÁ,” which was initially a cut off the expanded MOTOMAMI+ and has since become a lively, upbeat staple of the global pop artist’s live shows. This marks the first time the two chart-toppers have teamed up — in a recent interview with Zane Lowe for Apple Music, Rosalía sh...
One of the biggest news to hit the entertainment industry was revealed yesterday when DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn and titular actor, Henry Cavill revealed that he would not be returning to play Superman. Superman fans have spoken and taken to social media to share their disappointment and in some cases, untethered rage, in regard to Warner Bros. and DC Studios’ most recent decision. The news comes just months after Cavill confirmed his return, even hinting that the next Superman story will be “enormously joyful.” When Black Adam released this year, Dwayne Johnson even revealed that he “fought for years” to bring Henry Cavill back as Superman, but as it turns out, the efforts have been completely negated due to Gunn’s final decision. Some fans have also noted that it was peculiar that Cavi...
The Pitch: Owen Hendricks (Noah Centineo) is a fresh-faced, 24-year-old lawyer at the CIA’s Office of the General Counsel, and though he’s only been there for a couple of weeks, he finds himself way in over his head, beginning with an investigation into an already chaotic “graymail” attempt on the CIA. by Maxine Meladze (Laura Haddock). A former asset and CIA spy who was stationed in her native Belarus, Meladze is imprisoned in Arizona when Hendricks takes her case, and she threatens to reveal incriminating evidence against the CIA unless Hendricks can get her out of prison and back home to Europe. It’s a lot to ask for the relatively inexperienced Hendricks, who claims to have a passion for law but frequently finds himself jumping straight into the deep end, navigating murderous mobsters,...