INTERVIEWS
IPOB sit-at-home: Black marketers sell petrol at N300 per liter in Ebonyi
Black marketers on major streets of Abakaliki cashed in on the sit-at-home order by the Proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Monday to make brisk business. They sold the premium motor spirit, otherwise called petrol, for between N200 and N350 per litre, following the closure of fuel outlets in the city due to the IPOB order. In separate interviews with newsmen, a cross-section of the hawkers expressed happiness over the development. Chidi Onu, who said he “made good business”, frowned at the restriction on business activities by IPOB. “Well, it is not my fault that these things are happening. It is high time we sat on a roundtable as citizens to discuss many issues affecting us as a nation. “Yes, the IPOB order has favoured me. I only came out to sell and have something for my ...
How the Women Behind Wakaan Amplify Female Voices in a Scene Dominated by Men
Operating in a genre dominated by men, it’s two women who are propelling the engine of freeform electronic music from behind the scenes. Chloe Suit and Emily Mitchell helm Wakaan as its Marketing Director and Merchandise Director, respectively. Wakaan was launched in 2015 by famed bass music producer and entrepreneur Liquid Stranger, or Martin Stääf, who has since grown the organization into a powerhouse record label and music festival proprietor. And with two innovative, tough-as-nails women driving the brand, it has mutated from an unknown electronic neophyte into a global music and culture hub. Chloe Suit (L) and Emily Mitchell (R) of Wakaan. c/o Wakaan Sadly, Suit and Mitchell are outliers in their roles. A September 2019 survey conducted by the Association for Electronic Music (...
Authentically BIA
Boston-based artist BIA remains authentic to her craft. She found a mentor in Pharrell Williams, was on the 2014 reality show Sisterhood of Hip Hop and a 2017 tour with Ariana Grande that ended with the bombing in Manchester, England, as fans were exiting the arena (Grande immediately suspended the rest of the tour). BIA left RCA in 2019—the same year she and Russ went viral with “Best on Earth” thanks to an Instagram post by Rihanna. Last year’s For Certain EP was her declaration of independence. It’s the most sonically uninhibited she has ever been. “Whole Lotta Money,” one of the singles from For Certain, recently went viral. Additionally, she also has this year’s theme song for the NHL playoffs with “Skate.” Not bad for the Medford, Massachusetts native who recently inked a deal w...
Meet Suzy Shinn, the 26-Year-Old Producer Behind Van Weezer
Suzy Shinn had been working with Weezer as an assistant engineer for more than six years, though she never expected to get called into the big chair. However, the L.A.-based producer’s impressive resume had more than prepared her for that undertaking. At 26, the engineer can boast credits from the likes of Fall Out Boy and Katy Perry to Dua Lipa and Panic! at the Disco. But working with Weezer? That was an all-time career high. “I was so terrified the first day [of working with Weezer],” Shinn recalls over the phone from her home in Los Feliz. “Rivers is a creative and an artist, and it’s hard to be an artist in front of people that you don’t know — and especially vulnerable and intimate when it comes to lyrics and melodies.” While Weezer had previously opted to work with well-known ...
How Aloe Blacc Is Utilizing NFTs to Keep Avicii’s Legacy Alive
In the cutting-edge world of NFTs there’s almost no greater compliment than to call a piece “timeless.” In their perennial pursuit of value and utility, NFT creators and collectors alike constantly question what combination of creative and immutable qualities have the ability to leave a lasting impact. Given the feverish mainstream interest in the space, most NFT (non-fungible token) projects have borne little meaning beneath their superficial qualities. However, every once in awhile, a project with the organic confluence of superior design, noble intention, and historical relevance comes along. The rise in popularity of digital collectibles immediately grabbed Aloe Blacc‘s attention, and soon the Grammy-nominated artist became consumed with an idea that had t...
Harry Kane tells Tottenham he wants to leave this summer
Harry Kane has reiterated his stance that he wants to leave Tottenham this summer. The 27-year-old has grown frustrated over the club’s inability to compete at the highest level, having seen his side fall out of contention to secure Champions League football for next season. Spurs have long been reluctant to entertain bids for their talisman but the England captain is hoping that they will soften their stance after his long service to the club. Daniel Levy will demand a huge fee for Kane – who prefers a move within the Premier League – as he is on a long-term deal until 2024. Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea are potentially viable destinations, although it is still unclear as to whether a move will materialise. All three of the aforementioned Premier League giants have signif...
Mannequin Pussy on Perfect EP, Still Don’t Want Your Advice on Changing Their Name
After Patience released during the summer of 2019, Mannequin Pussy seemed poised to become the next big thing in punk. The Philadelphia band with a name that no one could forget saw their stock soar for the rest of the year after their first release on Epitaph Records, with sold-out shows across the country and billings on what were sure to be some of 2020’s biggest events, including Coachella. It was the bump that vocalist/guitarist Missy and the rest of the band needed to quit their day jobs and make their passion a full-time profession, and there was no sign of them slowing down. Of course, that was all before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and shut everything down, shortening Mannequin Pussy’s reign at the top of the modern punk scene to a brief seven-month stint. But rather than dwel...
The Black Keys’ Patrick Carney on Their New Album Delta Kream and Honoring Hill Country Blues
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-05-14T17:33:57+00:00“>May 14, 2021 | 1:33pm ET The Black Keys mark a return to their roots on their new album Delta Kream, which honors Mississippi Hill Country blues artists who inspired the duo — including John Lee Hooker, R. L. Burnside, and David “Junior” Kimbrough — through 11 stellar covers. The Ohio rockers recorded the album in 2019 at the end of their “Let’s Rock Tour” “in about 10 hours, over two afternoons,” according to drummer Patrick Carney. To create an even more authentic approach, the pair brought in esteemed musicians Kenny Brown, who played guitar for Burnside, and Eric Deaton, who played bass in Junior Kimbrough’s band. The resulting effort is an exciting fo...
Nigerian farmers raise alarm as insecurity threatens food availability
Some concerned parties in the agriculture sector have appealed to the federal government to intensify efforts in curbing banditry, kidnapping and terrorism, as these can threaten food security. The parties made the appeal in separate interviews with newsmen on Friday in Abuja. They noted that the recent increase in kidnapping and banditry had made a lot of farmers run from their farmlands in search of safe hideouts. The Executive Secretary, National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Paul Ikonne, said there was a need to urgently address the insecurity challenges in the country in order to overcome the challenge of food shortage. Ikonne noted that dialogue remained critical in addressing issues of insecurity and herders, adding that a peaceful dialogue between farmers and her...
Cheap Trick At Budokan: Corey Taylor, Linda Perry, Butch Walker and Producer Jack Douglas Discuss Iconic Album
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-05-13T19:45:35+00:00“>May 13, 2021 | 3:45pm ET It’s not very often that a legendary band’s discography is highlighted by a live release, but in the case of Cheap Trick, it just so happens that the live album in question is one of rock’s greatest recordings. Cheap Trick At Budokan put the band from Rockford, Illinois, on the international map and established them as a major force in the music industry. To celebrate At Budokan, Consequence gathered four esteemed musicians and producers via Zoom for a virtual round-table discussion on the album and Cheap Trick’s legacy. Along for the ride are Slipknot singer and solo artist Corey Taylor; songwriter, producer, and onetime 4 Non Blondes ...
Glimpse Into the Metaphysical World of Seven Lions’ Debut NFT Collection on Crypto.com [Exclusive]
The collision course of EDM and NFTs (non-fungible tokens) has been one of hyperactive harmony. An immeasurable number of electronic music artists have dropped a dizzying sequence of intricate digital artworks in recent months, selling them to collectors looking to cash in on the NFT craze. The latest major artist to push their chips into the blockchain-powered virtual art pot is Seven Lions. The melodic bass titan and founder of Ophelia Records—one of the dance music scene’s most venerated tastemakers—is primed to drop his debut NFT collection on Crypto.com/NFT. Crypto.com/NFT is a marketplace that allows NFT enthusiasts to discover exclusive digital collectibles and their non-fungible tokens. Crypto.com/NFT Developed by illustrator and graphic artist Evelyn Abermotio...
After 26 Years, Authority Zero Is Still ‘The Most Underrated Punk Rock Band’
Since originally making waves in the punk rock scene back in 2002 with “One More Minute” off of their debut, A Passage in Time, Authority Zero has been a model of consistency despite its rotating cast of members. Frontman Jason DeVore has worked with no fewer than 14 band members since the group’s mid-’90s inception, yet each of their seven full-lengths has remained true to the sound the Arizona rockers have always put forth, infusing bits of reggae and ska into their melodic and memorable punk tunes to create alternative radio-friendly singles like 2004’s “Revolution” and 2010’s “Get It Right.” Clearly, that consistency is appreciated by the band’s fans as well, as every one of those albums has landed within the top 50 of Billboard’s Heatseeker chart, with 2010’s Stories of Survival and 2...
