Lzzy Hale: Gibson Ambassador
Gibson has announced that Lzzy Hale, frontwoman of the Grammy Award-winning hard rock band Halestorm, has joined Gibson as the first female Brand Ambassador, representing acoustic and electric guitars across Gibson, Epiphone, and Kramer. The company has released signature Gibson Lzzy Hale Explorer and the Epiphone Lzzy Hale Explorer. Hale will also help drive the culture of giving back as part of the Gibson Gives Artist Advisory Council.
Swizz Beatz Receives Icon Award
Culture Creators hosted its 5th annual “Innovators & Leaders” Awards Brunch at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, celebrating leaders throughout the creative community and upholding a commitment to diversity. This year, musician, super-producer, art collector, philanthropist, and co-founder of Verzuz, Swizz Beatz accepted the Icon Award from his son and actor, Nasir Dean, aka Note Marcato. Swizz Beatz is pictured with fellow honorees and performers: Mya and H.E.R.
Kali Uchis Nueva Generación–Femenina
Grammy-winning artist Kali Uchis wins her first Univision Premios Juventud award for Nueva Generación–Femenina (New Female Artist). Additionally, she performed her hit track “telepatía” alongside a full orchestra at the award ceremony. Uchis’ “telepatía,” taken from her Spanish language album, Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios), has surpassed one billion global streams. The track also remains at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs Chart, making her the first female in nearly a decade to top the chart without a featured act. “telepatía” is the longest running Spanish-language song by a solo act.
Japanese Breakfast at Electric Lady
Spotify and Electric Lady Studios have launched a new series of live EPs, titled Live at Electric Lady. With the first Live at Electric Lady release having dropped on July 29 with Academy Award Winner Jon Batiste, the upcoming slate of live EPs will include: Patti Smith, Japanese Breakfast (pictured), Dominic Fike, Faye Webster, Bleachers, Remi Wolf, and Natalie Bergman, with more surprises to come. Made famous by Jimi Hendrix and classic sessions with Stevie Wonder, The Clash, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, and many others, the legendary Electric Lady Studios has inspired the world's greatest artists for five decades running.
Senses Fail in Joshua Tree
Senses Fail filmed live performances of their hit albums Let It Enfold You and Still Searching in their entirety in the middle of the Joshua Tree National Park at sunrise and sunset (which meant they were up at 3 a.m. to make sure they got the sun and set up just right...) Thanks to a 360-degree track camera, along with various steadicams surrounding and overhead, fans were brought into a unique livestream experience. “Joshua Tree is tied to many significant life changing events for me and the band,” says lead vocalist Buddy Nielsen.
Christina Aguilera at The Bowl
Aguilera performed her first major concert of 2021 at the Hollywood Bowl, in addition to the opening of the Virgin Hotel Las Vegas and a benefit show earlier in the year. This was Aguilera's first L.A. show in two years, and prior to her performance at the Greek Theater in 2018, she had last performed at the Staples Center in 2007. Not only did Aguilera perform with her all-star band of Ethan Farmer (bass), Stanley Randolph (drums), Michael Herring (guitar) and Rob Lewis (keys), she had the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Gustavo Dudamel.
Matt Stell in the Gulf
Platinum-selling artist Matt Stell made his inaugural trip overseas to entertain U.S. service members. The visit included several live shows at Al Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi in the Persian Gulf. “This doesn’t happen to me often, but I really can’t find the words to express what this trip has meant to me,” says Stell. “I am so thankful for the opportunity and I will never forget the experience.”
