Departments: We ♥
Timeless // Dwele + Miguel Atwood-Ferguson
“It was like being inside of a dream but being very conscious,” says LA composer Miguel Atwood-Ferguson of the experience of bringing J. Dilla’s music to life with a 60-piece orchestra, as part of three unforgettable performances honoring Mulatu Astatke, Arthur Verocai and Dilla—musicians who have all hugely influenced hip hop. Atwood-Ferguson led a contemporary chamber orchestra through the Suite For Ma Dukes on February 22, 2009, with guest vocals from Bilal, Talib Kweli and Dwele,… → Read more
“It was like being inside of a dream but being very conscious,” says LA composer Miguel Atwood-Ferguson of the experience of bringing J. Dilla’s music to life with a 60-piece orchestra, as part of three unforgettable performances honoring Mulatu Astatke, Arthur Verocai and Dilla—musicians who have all hugely influenced hip hop. Atwood-Ferguson led a contemporary chamber orchestra through the Suite For Ma Dukes on February 22, 2009, with guest vocals from Bilal, Talib Kweli and Dwele,… → Read more
Ha-He // Just A Band
They’ve been known to call themselves an “experimental boy band,” though Nairobi rockers Just A Band are as unpredictable as their tracks. We dare you not to re-think “Afro-pop” after a spin of this African pop band’s newly released second album 82 (a reference to the year members Blinky, Dan and Jim were born). From club-bangers to soulful electronica, the collection is a heady, lively dose of the new from a crew that doesn’t take… → Read more
They’ve been known to call themselves an “experimental boy band,” though Nairobi rockers Just A Band are as unpredictable as their tracks. We dare you not to re-think “Afro-pop” after a spin of this African pop band’s newly released second album 82 (a reference to the year members Blinky, Dan and Jim were born). From club-bangers to soulful electronica, the collection is a heady, lively dose of the new from a crew that doesn’t take… → Read more
Passage for Two // Opus Jazz
“Even though the ballet was made in the ’50s, it is all about the unforgettable experience of being young in New York City,” says co-producer Ellen Bar of the new film Opus Jazz. New York City Ballet soloists Bar and Sean Suozzi dreamed up this contemporary re-imagining of Jerome Robbins’ 1958 “ballet in sneakers”, premiering today at SXSW. “Putting it on location, with a cast of dancers wearing regular clothes, really highlights how universal and… → Read more
“Even though the ballet was made in the ’50s, it is all about the unforgettable experience of being young in New York City,” says co-producer Ellen Bar of the new film Opus Jazz. New York City Ballet soloists Bar and Sean Suozzi dreamed up this contemporary re-imagining of Jerome Robbins’ 1958 “ballet in sneakers”, premiering today at SXSW. “Putting it on location, with a cast of dancers wearing regular clothes, really highlights how universal and… → Read more
It Ain’t Easy // CJ
“As far as I was concerned, it was the ONLY location for the video,” says Baltimore’s CJ on using his hometown as the inspiration-point for his debut clip, “It Ain’t Easy”. “The song represents a lot of what I’ve seen growing up,” says the singer, who takes us through a day in his life. “Wire” references abound, a connection that CJ doesn’t exactly shy away from. His Salaam Remi & DJ Driis Present CJ: The… → Read more
“As far as I was concerned, it was the ONLY location for the video,” says Baltimore’s CJ on using his hometown as the inspiration-point for his debut clip, “It Ain’t Easy”. “The song represents a lot of what I’ve seen growing up,” says the singer, who takes us through a day in his life. “Wire” references abound, a connection that CJ doesn’t exactly shy away from. His Salaam Remi & DJ Driis Present CJ: The… → Read more
Control // Janet Jackson
In 1986, Janet Jackson had a failed marriage under her belt. She’d released two albums that she hated, having no creative input. They both flopped. Her acting career was going nowhere. And to top it off, her brother was the biggest star in the world. So what does she do? One option was to go to college, become an attorney. The other option—do it her own way. She would sever ties with her father Joe Jackson… → Read more
In 1986, Janet Jackson had a failed marriage under her belt. She’d released two albums that she hated, having no creative input. They both flopped. Her acting career was going nowhere. And to top it off, her brother was the biggest star in the world. So what does she do? One option was to go to college, become an attorney. The other option—do it her own way. She would sever ties with her father Joe Jackson… → Read more
Nuit Blanche // Arev Manoukian
Okay, so we’re a sucker for a good love story, and the stunning Nuit Blanche by director Arev Manoukian literally jumped out at us on the interwebs. Turns out the Ontario, Canada-based director recently won the top prize at LG Life’s Good FilmFest in Toronto. Though the short is a testament to amazing effects and innovative filmmaking, what we really love is that it triumphs in capturing that first moment when you come face to… → Read more
Okay, so we’re a sucker for a good love story, and the stunning Nuit Blanche by director Arev Manoukian literally jumped out at us on the interwebs. Turns out the Ontario, Canada-based director recently won the top prize at LG Life’s Good FilmFest in Toronto. Though the short is a testament to amazing effects and innovative filmmaking, what we really love is that it triumphs in capturing that first moment when you come face to… → Read more
San Francisco Jam Session // Exile + Teeko
Direct from the road to your eyes, Arcade Players. Jonathan Kim of Plug Research sent us this little gem he recently snapped at the Elbo Room in San Francisco: “As I came into the venue, I peeped Exile and Teeko jamming out on their respective equipment, and I was impressed to say the least. Teeko has been making some noise with his group F.A.M.E. as well as recently working with Mark Ronson in NY for… → Read more
Direct from the road to your eyes, Arcade Players. Jonathan Kim of Plug Research sent us this little gem he recently snapped at the Elbo Room in San Francisco: “As I came into the venue, I peeped Exile and Teeko jamming out on their respective equipment, and I was impressed to say the least. Teeko has been making some noise with his group F.A.M.E. as well as recently working with Mark Ronson in NY for… → Read more
Symphonies // Dan Black + Kid Cudi
Sure, we’re suckers for anything with a Donnie Darko reference at A44 HQ, but still, we dare anyone not to give the Dan Black and Kid Cudi “Symphonies” clip a couple replays. “I do all my visuals, artwork, and videos with great friends of mine in Paris called Chic & Artistic,” says Black. “I think they came up with the idea of me walking through the opening titles of classic films, and then we sat… → Read more
Sure, we’re suckers for anything with a Donnie Darko reference at A44 HQ, but still, we dare anyone not to give the Dan Black and Kid Cudi “Symphonies” clip a couple replays. “I do all my visuals, artwork, and videos with great friends of mine in Paris called Chic & Artistic,” says Black. “I think they came up with the idea of me walking through the opening titles of classic films, and then we sat… → Read more
Top That! // Rachel Antonoff
We love the spirit of play that designer Rachel Antonoff infuses into her collections. The NYC designer teamed with bestie Alia Shawkatt (a.k.a. Maeby Fünke of Arrested Development) and director Ryan Rickett to have a little fun with her spring collection at the expense of a certain 80s flick. “Like most girls around my age, I have always loved Teen Witch,” she says. “I have so many memories of watching it as a kid. It’s so… → Read more
We love the spirit of play that designer Rachel Antonoff infuses into her collections. The NYC designer teamed with bestie Alia Shawkatt (a.k.a. Maeby Fünke of Arrested Development) and director Ryan Rickett to have a little fun with her spring collection at the expense of a certain 80s flick. “Like most girls around my age, I have always loved Teen Witch,” she says. “I have so many memories of watching it as a kid. It’s so… → Read more
Of the Same Earth // Kehinde Wiley
We were so moved by this short film celebrating Kehinde Wiley’s Legends of Unity featuring footballers Samuel Eto’o, Emmanuel Eboué and John Mensah, we had to get some face time with the artist himself. To celebrate the upcoming World Cup, PUMA commissioned Wiley to paint original portraits of the athletes. In the painting that depicts them all standing together, the players wear PUMA’s limited-edition “Unity” kit. Like Wiley’s vibrant work itself, the color of the kit… → Read more
We were so moved by this short film celebrating Kehinde Wiley’s Legends of Unity featuring footballers Samuel Eto’o, Emmanuel Eboué and John Mensah, we had to get some face time with the artist himself. To celebrate the upcoming World Cup, PUMA commissioned Wiley to paint original portraits of the athletes. In the painting that depicts them all standing together, the players wear PUMA’s limited-edition “Unity” kit. Like Wiley’s vibrant work itself, the color of the kit… → Read more
A Young Couple // Barry Jenkins
Remind us to invite Barry Jenkins to our next bday bash. He comes up with the best gifts. When the San Francisco filmmaker was invited to a friend’s 30th last year, she asked that all guests make, rather than buy, their gifts. Having recently come off the release of his moving, meditative feature Medicine for Melancholy, Jenkins went back to the subject matter he thrives on: post-millennial matters of the heart. With DP James Laxton and… → Read more
Remind us to invite Barry Jenkins to our next bday bash. He comes up with the best gifts. When the San Francisco filmmaker was invited to a friend’s 30th last year, she asked that all guests make, rather than buy, their gifts. Having recently come off the release of his moving, meditative feature Medicine for Melancholy, Jenkins went back to the subject matter he thrives on: post-millennial matters of the heart. With DP James Laxton and… → Read more
If I Had a Heart // Fever Ray + Andreas Nilsson
When we first saw this stunning, creepy video for Fever Ray’s “If I Had a Heart”, we just couldn’t shake it. Perhaps it’s because he started out as a fine artist, but director Andreas Nilsson creates some of the most gloriously off-kilter music videos we’ve ever seen. The Malmö, Sweden-based director works closely with friends Peter, Bjorn, and John (“Nothing to Worry About” features preening, fighting, dancing Yakuza), Röyksopp (“This Must Be It”—post-apocalyptic nudists. And… → Read more
When we first saw this stunning, creepy video for Fever Ray’s “If I Had a Heart”, we just couldn’t shake it. Perhaps it’s because he started out as a fine artist, but director Andreas Nilsson creates some of the most gloriously off-kilter music videos we’ve ever seen. The Malmö, Sweden-based director works closely with friends Peter, Bjorn, and John (“Nothing to Worry About” features preening, fighting, dancing Yakuza), Röyksopp (“This Must Be It”—post-apocalyptic nudists. And… → Read more
Pressure // Quadron
We’ve got our eyes on Copenhagen duo Quadron, especially after glimpsing this rather non-saccharine take on teenage romance. “The director Daniel Kragh Jacobsen thought it could be interesting to do a video that wasn’t directly about the lyrics in the song, but was more inspired by the feeling of the song,” says Quadron’s Robin Hannibal, formerly of Owusu & Hannibal and Boom Clap Bachelors. “It is with no doubt the most happy song on the… → Read more
We’ve got our eyes on Copenhagen duo Quadron, especially after glimpsing this rather non-saccharine take on teenage romance. “The director Daniel Kragh Jacobsen thought it could be interesting to do a video that wasn’t directly about the lyrics in the song, but was more inspired by the feeling of the song,” says Quadron’s Robin Hannibal, formerly of Owusu & Hannibal and Boom Clap Bachelors. “It is with no doubt the most happy song on the… → Read more