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10 Times Daft Punk Were Photographed Without Helmets
Daft Punk wasn’t always Daft Punk. When Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter formed the duo in 1993, they were teenagers with synthesizers, a far cry from the decorated robots we adore today. In fact, it wasn’t until 1999 that they assumed their arcane robotic identities, lending to an air of mystery surrounding the years between. Beyond fables from music industry veterans, it’s tough to distinguish anything about the reclusive Bangalter and de Homem-Christo—even their appearances. And after their shocking split after 28 years, all we can do now is reminisce about the past, question the future, and complain about what could’ve been. Here are 10 times Daft Punk were photographed without their iconic helmets. Kevin Cummins Franck Courtès David Axelban...
Beyond the Boys’ Club: Kris Esfandiari of King Woman
Beyond the Boys’ Club is a monthly column from journalist and radio host Anne Erickson, focusing on women in the heavy music genres, as they offer their perspectives on the music industry and discuss their personal experiences. Erickson is also a music artist herself, recently releasing the song “Eternal Way” under the moniker Upon Wings. This month’s piece features an interview with Kris Esfandiari of King Woman. King Woman’s new album, Celestial Blues, delves into heavy themes of suffering, spirituality and, ultimately, triumph. The ethereal doom band, led by Kris Esfandiari, releases its sophomore set July 30th via Relapse Records, following up the 2017 debut, Created in the Image of Suffering. Esfandiari grew up in a cult-like religious environment filled with stories of demons and exo...
Facebook hits $1 trillion valuation for first time
Social media giant, Facebook, has hit a $1 trillion valuation, following a dismissal of two antitrust lawsuits against the company. Facebook’s stock closed higher on Monday at $355.64 per share which contributed to the trillion-dollar valuation, Business Insider reported. The rise came after a United States court dismissed complaints by the Federal Trade Commission and a group of state attorneys generals against the social networking company. The FTC has claimed that Facebook is exercising monopoly as the social media giant controls over 60% of the social-networking market. In the ruling of the case, US District Judge James Boasberg in Washington dismissed the claim, as he explained that there was no proof to support their claim. In a separate case, 46 state attorneys general formed a coal...
EDM.com Presents Synth Sisters, Vol. 12
There is so much talent within the electronic music community that it’s difficult to keep a finger on its pulse. To assist you on your music discovery journey, EDM.com’s monthly “Synth Sisters” series illuminates new releases from brilliant women producers of all genres and sizes with the hope of celebrating their contributions. “Inner Vision” – Bass Temple Bass Temple re-emerged on High Vibe Records to channel her “Inner Vision,” a world odyssey through tribal chants and empowering energies. “Smile (Extended Mix)” – Ali Story Ali Story made her debut on Axwell’s imprint Axtone with “Smile.” Channeling her feelings and emotions of reconnecting with loved ones into her music, “Smile” features traditional house piano chords that offer the perfect foundatio...
Every Fast and Furious Movie Ranked by Least Family to Most Family
“I don’t have friends. I got family.” For the vast majority of the Fast and the Furious franchise’s twenty-year lifespan, one overriding ethos has dominated the series even more than its love of tricked-out imported street cars: The physics-defying, bone-deep earnest love of family. (Or, as series star Vin Diesel so frequently rumbles, fambly.) In the Fast movies, having a family and a code by which to honor them is the most powerful force on Earth. It can defy the laws of governments as much as it can the laws of physics; it can even restore memory and bring back the dead. It can turn your most sworn enemy into your dearest comrade. And most of all, it can make Corona Lites palatable. With the latest entry in the series, F9, now in theaters, it’s high time to look back at the franchise’s ...
Mining Metal: Take Over and Destroy, Avtotheism, Boss Keloid, Code, Pharaoh, Siderean, Witch Cross, Witch Vomit
Mining Metal is a monthly column from Heavy Consequence writers Joseph Schafer and Langdon Hickman. The focus is on noteworthy new music emerging from the non-mainstream metal scene, highlighting releases from small and independent labels — or even releases from unsigned acts. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many anticipated that a year or more without touring would prompt musicians to create a surplus of material to be released afterward. Now that America’s becoming increasingly vaccinated, that prediction looks to be panning out. Not only are there a slew of spectacular releases on the horizon (and I don’t just mean Carcass, though their new song “Kelly’s Meat Emporium” is a must-listen), but many of them come from bands that never broke up but also haven’t been particularly active, eith...
EDM.com Presents The Heat Check 006: A Hundred Drums, Truth, Smoakland, and More
In modern bass, dubstep and trap music, listeners and tastemakers are always chasing the next big track to blow crowds away at a festival stage. EDM.com Presents The Heat Check is a list of the most ear-catching, incendiary, and ‘fire’ tracks that emerge from the bass and freeform scene. “Bone Dust” – A Hundred Drums Colorado’s A Hundred Drums has seen and experienced a lot in her life, especially in the past year, so she’s taken to her eclectic dubstep production to help tell that story. Her new EP, Enough is Enough, is the Deadbeat’s label most experimental release to date and it effectively commemorates the year anniversary of George Floyd’s death. “Right Here” – Buku Bass music legend Buku is back with a new wobbly single from his forthcoming EP....
Song of the Week: Miley Cyrus and Friends Take on Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters”
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, a murderer’s row of stars cover Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters.” This year marks three decades since Metallica released their self-titled album, remembered as The Black Album, and Miley Cyrus, the reigning queen of rock covers and collabs, isn’t letting the anniversary pass without some acknowledgement. With the help of quite a few impressive friends — WATT, Elton John, Yo-Yo Ma, Robert Trujillo, and Chad Smith — Miley has honored the original track with a sweeping arrangement that shows off her characteristically killer vocals...
The Real Cost of Not Engineering for Agility
Natasha Anderson, Practice Lead: Software Engineering Standard Bank Group. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_2a2.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_2a2.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } As Practice Lead for Software Engineering, I have always seen my role as being a champion for engineering improvement, promoting collaboration and continuous learning among the engineering community in my organisation. While these foundational aspects are important to organisations that leverage technology as a business outcomes enabler, the continuous pressures of a fast-changing world, exacerbated by COVID-19’s impact on our economy has allowed me to view the relationship between engineering and business success through an additional lens, which I wish to share with you. As the pandemic unfolded in the p...
Why Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Album Is Still as Critical as Ever a Decade Later
“My mama told me when I was young/ We are all born superstars.” The familiar opening line of “Born This Way,” the title track from a certain seminal album, carries just a little weight for Lady Gaga, who was born Stefani Germanotta, and who by her own volition became a classically-trained, boundary-pushing social provocateur with a vital presence in the pop zeitgeist. It takes a certain caliber of artist to become mononymous: Prince. Madonna. Gaga. Lady Gaga and pop culture both looked quite different in 2011 during Born This Way’s initial release, and reviewing Gaga’s boldness from that time — both in her melodramatic public persona and innovative production choices — serves as a reminder for how much has changed in the decade that has passed since. Gay marriage had not yet been legalized...
Artist Spotlight: Dazzo Wants to Leave a Mark on the Italian Dance Music Scene
24-year-old Italian DJ Dazzo has been passionate about music for as long as he can remember. Growing up in Italy, music was a very large part of his upbringing. Studying music since a young age inspired him to continue on the musical path in high school, where he learned the basics of composition and production, even learning how to play the guitar as well as the clarinet. Shortly after his studies, Dazzo became a DJ when he met his best friend and partner while working at Genoese discos, a public relations firm. Having bonded over their passion for music, the two decided to join forces and are now known as the emerging Italian duo Donis & Dazzo. Through innovative music production, their sound is constantly evolving. Davide Randazzo and Alessio ...
