GEAR + TECH
3LAU, Ashton Kutcher, Mark Cuban, More to Judge Shark Tank-Like NFT Funding Contest
As the NFT mania rages on, a new Shark Tank-like competition is set to debut with a number of high-profile judges. NFTs: The Pitch is a go following a $1 million funding round by Sound Ventures, a major venture capital firm founded by Guy Oseary and famed actor and entrepreneur Ashton Kutcher. Both execs will appear as judges on a panel that also includes billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, iconic hip-hop artist Snoop Dogg, and electronic music producer 3LAU, among others. Details on the contest’s format and distribution plan are scarce at this time. Variety reports that on April 21st, finalists will participate in a live virtual pitch session with the judges. However, the discussions will not be streamed live to the public, according to the competition’s websit...
A Bitcoin-Inspired Artist Has Launched a Micropayment Plugin for DJs and Music Producers
Bitcoin activist artist Cryptograffiti has launched a new micropayment plugin designed to generate new cryptocurrency revenue streams for DJs and music producers. The announcement came with an accompanying live DJ set by Cryptograffiti that was performed at San Francisco’s US Mint, where the artist publicly demonstrated the new revenue sharing system. “The event entitled ‘Strikes Twice’ is named after the new plugin’s ability to automatically split micropayments into separate addresses,” Cryptograffiti said in announcement shared with Bitcoin Magazine. “If live stream viewers enjoy one of the tracks played during the event, they can send bitcoin tips to a static QR code that splits the payment based on the track being played at the t...
You Can 3D Print Your Own Miniature Daft Punk Helmets With These Free Design Templates
As if DIY culture wasn’t already popping off in our pandemic-induced boredom, YouTube 3D-printing channel Mars Gizmo has turned it up a notch with a new tutorial on 3D-prints of miniature Daft Punk helmets. In addition to a short instructional video, Mars Gizmo included in its description a list of recommended filament colors and super glues, along with links to an entry-level 3D printer. Both designs were originally published on Thangs, an online database for storing and sharing 3D printer designs. With more than one million subscribers, Mars Gizmo has also published designs for a Darth Vader helmet, a Pokémon diorama and a bust of Vision from The Avengers, among others. And if 3D printing isn’t your jam, check out these 10 unique Daft Punk collectibles to keep the...
deadmau5 and Robbie Trevino Talk Upcoming NFT Collaboration on Nifty Gateway Podcast
Last week internationally acclaimed visual artist Robbie Trevino shared that his book project Numinous, which is five years in the making, will be released as an NFT later this month on Nifty Gateway. Dance music fans were particularly excited to see that his release would feature music from deadmau5. Those looking to learn more about the audiovisual project are in luck as the duo sat down with the digital marketplace for an hourlong chat on their podcast. Inside, you can learn the history of Trevino’s long-awaited project, hear how him and deadmau5 joined forces, and understand why he chose the NFT format for the release. On the musical front, deadmau5 explains how he dove deep into the sci-fi world created by Trevino and used the information gathered to create a cohesive ...
Spotify Is Rolling Out Voice Control Functionality: Just Say “Hey Spotify”
The Spotify experience is now hands-free. In a move to step up their “voice” game, the music streaming giant has implemented the use of a wake word that will allow users to navigate within the app upon command. Simply saying “Hey Spotify” now yields an on-screen prompt to try saying the name of a playlist, artist, or song. The wake word function will only activate if the app is open and presently onscreen. Even as music is playing, using the function will allow users to redirect with ease. Big tech sleuth Jane Manchum Wong first discovered that Spotify was working on such a feature back in early 2020. From the looks of her screenshots, the final product presently rolling out to users seems to be vastly similar to what she had uncovered at the time. Digit...
What is BitClout and Why Are Electronic Music Artists Flocking in Droves?
Electronic music artists from all walks of life are flocking to BitClout, a new social media platform rooted in the ever-evolving field of blockchain technology. For years, proponents of blockchain have claimed that the technology had the ability to support decentralized social media networks. In this case, decentralized just means that there isn’t one point of failure, such as the private server room owned by a traditional social media company. Instead, the decentralized network is supported by thousands of independent nodes run by consumers from all over the world. To make a long story short, BitClout is one of the first successful applications of blockchain as it relates to social media. And word is getting around fast. A large part of BitClout’s early success is ...
Flume’s Next NFT Drop Will Feature Exclusive Visuals from New Album
Flume’s latest foray into the NFT world may be his biggest yet. The fabled future bass producer has announced that his new non-fungible token drop, which he said will be his last for a while, will feature visuals from his upcoming album. Flume announced his foray into the NFT space in March, dropping a trippy audiovisual piece called “Saccade” that eventually sold for a whopping 28.2828 ETH, equivalent to $58,618.08. Back in April 2020, Flume confirmed that the album was in the works during a radio interview and said at the time that he hoped to finish it by the end of the year. Mum’s been the word ever since, and he is yet to announce a title, tracklist, or release date. Check out a preview of Flume’s new NFT, which drops on Nifty Gateway this Sunday, be...
Don Diablo Makes History With $1.2 Million Sale of First-Ever Full-Length Concert NFT
Don Diablo has made NFT history after selling his Destination Hexagonia piece for a staggering $1,259,280, or 600.0Ξ. Diablo sold the one-of-a-kind NFT, or non-fungible token, on the aptly titled SuperRare marketplace. The drop, which sold in just four minutes, was the first-ever full-length concert experience to be sold as an NFT. The HEXAGON label boss, who called Destination Hexagonia a “next level sci-fi animated live concert experience,” has been working on developing the piece over the course of the last year. The winning bidder received a unique hand-crafted box, which includes a hard drive that contains the only copy of the high-quality file of the film in existence. Watch Diablo explain the inspiration behind the ambitious NFT project...
Blockchain-Powered Streaming Platform Audius Announces Foray into NFTs, Audius Collectibles
Rising blockchain-based streaming platform Audius has seen some massive growth this year. The service now boasts over four-and-a-half million active monthly users and its in-house cryptocurrency token, $AUDIO, has become more valuable than ever. With the rising popularity of NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, it only seems natural that Audius’ next big move would be to breach into the space. That’s exactly what the streaming platform is now set to do after Audius announced its newest feature, Audius Collectibles, today. Dillon Francis’ NFTs on his Audius Collectibles tab. CoinDesk Audius Collectibles will make it possible for artists to showcase and merchandise their own unique NFTs through the platform, providing a direct-to-fans approach. The goal is to make...
![Adventure Club’s Leighton James and Impossible Brief Launch NFT Clothing Brand, “Overpriced.” [Exclusive]](https://www.wazupnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/adventure-clubs-leighton-james-and-impossible-brief-launch-nft-clothing-brand-overpriced-exclusive-1050x600.jpg)
![Adventure Club’s Leighton James and Impossible Brief Launch NFT Clothing Brand, “Overpriced.” [Exclusive]](https://www.wazupnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/adventure-clubs-leighton-james-and-impossible-brief-launch-nft-clothing-brand-overpriced-exclusive-80x80.jpg)
Adventure Club’s Leighton James and Impossible Brief Launch NFT Clothing Brand, “Overpriced.” [Exclusive]
In a space which has seen nothing short of a meteoric rise in the last several months, Adventure Club solidified themselves as early adopters of NFT technology. With his latest venture, Adventure Club’s Leighton James is striving to push the sector forward in ways previously unexplored. James has joined forces with with Impossible Brief to launch Overpriced., a new NFT venture that intersects high-end fashion and blockchain technology. In less than a week, Overpriced. is set to make a splash with their first release, an NFT hoodie with an eye-popping starting bid of $25,000. It seems NFTs are fetching higher and higher valuations by the day, and while we’re clearly still figuring out how to price them, it’s safe to say that no one knows the value of a...
How to choose a down jacket
A beginner’s guide on how to choose a down jacket that will keep you warm and toasty in the great outdoors A high-quality down jacket is no longer the preserve of the outdoorsy. Politicians, pop stars and even princesses have been pictured in a ‘puffa’. Of course, a down jacket truly comes into its own when used and tested in the great outdoors. Understanding what to consider before you choose a down jacket can be confusing. To make the decision easy, we’ve put together a simple guide to choosing the jacket that’s best for you. What is down? Down is the natural insulating layer found on geese and ducks that helps keep their bodies warm in nearly freezing temperatures. It is usually white or grey and looks like small clusters of fluff. These clusters create millions of tiny air ...
YouTuber Covers Daft Punk’s “Around The World” Using “Singing” Tesla Coils
While we’re still reeling from the news of Daft Punk‘s shocking breakup, the musical tributes have continued to roll in. Now, YouTuber Fabricio H. Franzoli may have just published the most innovative Daft Punk cover todate. It turns out one unintended use of Tesla coils is that they have the ability to produce music. That’s precisely what Franzoli has revealed anyway, and his Franzoli Electronics channel now has over 270,000 subscribers to show for it. By carefully managing the phase, pulse width, and firing frequency of the lightning-like energy emanating from the coils, the structures emit various pitches. Franzoli takes this phenomenon further, generating entire arrangements, with his latest cover being Daft Punk’s “Around The World.” A...
