Thirty years from his death on April 5 1994, the impact of Kurt Cobain and his band, Nirvana, and their values, still resonates in today’s culture and music. Nirvana were everywhere at the start of the 1990s, much like Taylor Swift’s omnipresence today. But unlike Swift, who has embraced and mastered the business side of… Continue reading Kurt Cobain is still shaping culture – 30 years after the Nirvana frontman’s death
Inspiration comes from the most unexpected places. In the case of Rachel Deacon, her artistic career was sent in a completely different direction by…a home extension. When the construction was complete and the builders had left, Rachel was left with a huge blank wall. It was crying out for a big canvas, a statement abstract… Continue reading Figurative and abstract artist – Rachel Deacon
Darius Shu is a British East Asian cinematographer based in London. He loves telling humanistic and poetic stories with striking imagery. Darius focuses his storytelling on driving societal conversations forward. He does this by incorporating a blend of social awareness and surrealism into his films. Through the power of visual storytelling, Darius aims to create a… Continue reading Cinematographer and founder of Silverprince Pictures – Darius Shu’s showreel
In a cinematic landscape often dominated by grim superheroes and CGI-laden extravaganzas, director David Leitch’s latest creation, “The Fall Guy,” emerges as a refreshing throwback to the heyday of action comedy. Drawing inspiration from the cult 80s television series, this film promises audiences a rollicking adventure filled with old-school stunts and comedic charm. At its… Continue reading The Fall Guy: A Retro Blast of Action Comedy in Modern Cinema
Belinda Eaton’s magical realist paintings and portraits, done in acrylic or oil on canvas, are on show at the Catto Gallery after winning the Society of Women Artists prize. “My paintings are my world, my fascination for people, plants, animals and colour. They are how I perceive things with all their energy” said Eaton. Schooled… Continue reading The richness of artist Belinda Eaton
Just For One Day, the Old Vic’s new musical about Live Aid, recreates the story behind the history-making concert in a spectacle full of iconic 1980s rock anthems. The script may feel a bit clunky, but as it’s performed in front of enthusiastic audiences largely made up of people old enough to remember that warm… Continue reading Live Aid the musical: what really happens when celebrities get behind humanitarian causes
The long-awaited Bob Marley biopic “One Love” will highlight important moments in the musician’s life – his adolescence in Trench Town, his spiritual growth, the attempt on his life. But as a music industry scholar, I wonder if the film is yet another extension of the Marley marketing machine. Marley died in 1981 at the age of 36.… Continue reading From rebel to retail − inside Bob Marley’s posthumous musical and merchandising empire
Halsey shared a video on TikTok with tinny music in the background, the on-screen text reading: Basically I have a song that I love that I wanna release ASAP but my record label won’t let me. I’ve been in this industry for 8 years and I’ve sold over 165 million records. And my record company… Continue reading Halsey’s record label wouldn’t release a new song until it went viral on TikTok. Is this the future of the music industry?
Justin Bieber is the latest artist in a growing list of musicians who have sold the rights to their music. This move is typically made by more seasoned artists such as Bruce Springsteen, who reportedly received US$500m (£406m) for the sale of his life’s work in 2021, or Stevie Nicks who sold a share of… Continue reading Justin Bieber sells his back catalogue – an expert explains why artists give up rights to their music
A longstanding feud between TikTok and Universal Music Group seems to have finally reached an end, with both parties signing a deal that will see Universal-backed music returned to the social media platform. Universal first removed its artists’ work from TikTok about three months ago, restricting access to tunes from household names such as Billie… Continue reading Universal’s music is returning to TikTok, ending a spat that hurt fans more than anyone
