My stats for this year show that the Beyonce Renaissance continued. The album came out in 2022 but the live tour came and was everything I needed. So many parts of myself came came flooding back, whether it was teary eyed being taken back to dangerously in love or the mantras of building new foundations via Break my Soul
Right before Renny we saw Janelle live for the Age of Pleasure tour. The album on first listen didn’t provide the same kind of catharsis as their previous records, and I wish it was longer. Whereas previous albums were sound cinema perfect for listening in isolation on your bedroom floor, Age of Pleasure wants to be heard in community, by the poolside, at the picnic, at the Lgbtqbebbbq2seWegonnaEATBBQ, etc. and so much of it clicked when I saw them perform the songs live.
I was lucky in terms of timing and location privilege that I was able to see Janelle 4-5 times during the release of the first two suites of Metropolis. Then a few times between the ArchAndroid and Electric Lady. But then there was a big gap for me being able to see them live between Electric Lady and Dirty Computer.
So my memory of them was being a debut artist, crowd surfing in smaller venues, opener for other artists etc. so to finally see them with an album like Age of Pleasure for a huge multicultural cross generational crowd with a record that directly references the music of the African diaspora felt special. I also think aside from the obvious motifs and liberation and inspiration of joy and pleasure, it’s also inspiring to see how this album developed new foundations and structures for Janelle the musician. Dirty computer freed them from the pressure of only being Cindi Mayweather, but Age of Pleasure just provides so much possibility for Janelle the artist.
In terms of newer artists, Amaarae’s Fountain Baby is so dynamic! No skips! Expansive! Explosive! Genre bending! Redefining what an Afrobeats album can be.
These aren’t albums but EPs that got lots of replay for 2023.
Mette - Mettenarrative
My partner introduced me to them and I never looked back. I love when dancers delve into music and you can hear their embodiment.
Karen Nyame KG - Red
Short but sweet polyrhythmic sensual drums for the dance floor. Wet is just so smooth and DOES something to me.
Dawn Richard - The Architect
Dawn is a top favorite. And this EP is 17 minutes and three tracks but feels like a full length album journey. The way she continues to play with genre and what her voice can and glide through crunchy textures is an elixir. The prerelease single was Bubblegum which was a fun moment for dancing but in the context of the EP everything is WORLDBUILDING. An ecosystem of sound.
Witness Triple-Threat METTE's Star Rise With "VAN GOGH"
METTE (aka Mette Towley) is no stranger to the stage. She’s performed as part of Pharell‘s dance troupe on his world tour, starred in the music video for N.E.R.D. x Rihanna collab “Lemon”, featured alongside JLo in 2019 film ‘Hustlers’, and most recently made a cameo as ‘Video Girl Barbie’ in Greta Gerwig’s box office-breaker.
On September 22, METTE will release her first EP, ‘Mettenarrative’,…
METTE | Mama's Eyes from Camille Summers-Valli on Vimeo.
Exec Prod - Art Practice @artpractice.studio Division @division.global Lovesong @lovesongfilms Shot in Mars @shotinmars
Production Company - Art Practice - @artpractice.studio
Director - Camille Summers-Valli - @camille.summersvalli
Executive Producer - James Guy - @jamesguy9
Producer - Daisy Rylance - @daisyrylance
DOP - Maximilian Pittner - @maximilianpittner
Editors - Trim - @trimediting
Editor - Vid Price - @vidprice
Edit Producer - Tatyana Alexandra - @tatyanaalexandra_
Artist - Mette - @mettenarrative
Management - Something In Common - Caron Veazey - @caronveazey
Senior Commissioner - Sony Music - Kat Cattaneo - @kat_catt @sonymusic @sonymusicuk
Creative Director - RCA Records - Joy Elton - @rcarecords
Stylist - Alex Cronan - @alexandracronan @studioand
Stylist Assistant - Thomas Grindall - @comanagementagency
Make Up Artist - Rebecca Wordingham - @beccawordingham
Make Up Assistant - Tamsin BALLINGAL - @tamsinballingall_makeup
Make Up Assistant - Chantal AMARI - @amarichantalmua
Bodypaint Assistant - Solenne LEBRETON - @solenne.hair.makeup
Hair Stylist - Melissa ROUILLE - @melissarouillehair
Hair Stylist Assistant - Christophe PUJOL - @christophepujol
Seamstress - Taous MEGHNI - @meghnitaous
METTE | Mama's Eyes from Camille Summers-Valli on Vimeo.
Exec Prod - Art Practice @artpractice.studio Division @division.global Lovesong @lovesongfilms Shot in Mars @shotinmars
Production Company - Art Practice - @artpractice.studio
Director - Camille Summers-Valli - @camille.summersvalli
Executive Producer - James Guy - @jamesguy9
Producer - Daisy Rylance - @daisyrylance
DOP - Maximilian Pittner - @maximilianpittner
Editors - Trim - @trimediting
Editor - Vid Price - @vidprice
Edit Producer - Tatyana Alexandra - @tatyanaalexandra_
Artist - Mette - @mettenarrative
Management - Something In Common - Caron Veazey - @caronveazey
Senior Commissioner - Sony Music - Kat Cattaneo - @kat_catt @sonymusic @sonymusicuk
Creative Director - RCA Records - Joy Elton - @rcarecords
Stylist - Alex Cronan - @alexandracronan @studioand
Stylist Assistant - Thomas Grindall - @comanagementagency
Make Up Artist - Rebecca Wordingham - @beccawordingham
Make Up Assistant - Tamsin BALLINGAL - @tamsinballingall_makeup
Make Up Assistant - Chantal AMARI - @amarichantalmua
Bodypaint Assistant - Solenne LEBRETON - @solenne.hair.makeup
Hair Stylist - Melissa ROUILLE - @melissarouillehair
Hair Stylist Assistant - Christophe PUJOL - @christophepujol
Seamstress - Taous MEGHNI - @meghnitaous
Dear Girl Tour I worked on with #director @crystalmoselle a few years back. Loved hearing the stories of the talented dance crew. Including stills of the vignette #mettenarrative @i_am_other https://www.instagram.com/p/CLLE2A8hcXb/?igshid=13r5kpmh950dj
We invited some friends & artists who inspire us, and who embody the mood of #ENERGY, to create dance pieces & visualisers to accompany some of the songs from the record. First up is the amazing @mettenarrative for WHO KNEW? Watch on YouTube now!! Hope you love these as much as we do
My name is Michael, and I am 26. I am new to the Cats fandom, and have become obsessed with Cats after seeing the movie at the end of 2019. I joined Tumblr because of seeing @incorrectcats and @omikinz posts on Instagram, and figured this is a better place to express my love for Cats.
Cats makes me happy in a way that I had not felt possibly ever. I describe the movie and as pure fun, because that is what it is. I have seen it now 25 times, and will smile and sing for two hours every time. I adore the 1998 film, which I have seen probably over 15 times. Before owning the Blu-ray, I probably listened the Highlights soundtrack over 30 times. I also own the soundtracks for the Original London and Broadway Casts, and listen to them regularly.
At the end of December last year, I was sitting in my house wondering what to do with my time off before the new year. A thought popped into my head that the new Cats movie was in theatres, remembering from months before that it was coming around Christmas. I thought to myself that I should go see it, because I adore cats (the animal), so it should be interesting. All I knew about Cats is that it is a musical, and the cast dressed up like cats. Nothing else. I did not read any reviews, or even watched the trailer. After watching the movie, and sitting through the ending credits, I was the last person to leave the theatre, completely mesmerized. I saw the movie again two days after. Then again one week later. Every time it was more enjoyable. I would have seen it again (and again), but it was pulled from theatres soon afterwards.
I immediately bought the Highlights soundtrack CD and every version of the movie poster I could find online, including the two 4' x 6' bus shelter posters. I have also bought other promotional items such earmuffs, a mug, booklets, basically anything I can get my hands.
The music, singing, and dancing are amazingly beautiful and energetic. The set and scenery are breathtaking. I personally love the CGI, and I was struck by how the movement of the ears and tails is a spot on emulation of how cats communicate and react.
All the characters are fantastically played by their respective actors and actresses. I have to praise that the smaller name performers are the real stars of this movie. Rumpleteazer (my favourite character) played by @naoimhmorgan, Victoria played by @frankiegoestohayward, Munkustrap played by @robbiefairchild, Mungojerrie played by @dannycollinswright, Cassandra played by @mettenarrative, Demeter played by @dannie_norman, Jellylorum played by @freya_rowley, Tantomile played by @zizistrallen, Skimbleshanks played by @stevenmcrae_ are the reasons this is my favourite movie ever. I do not have enough space here to praise everyone.
I truly hope that the full soundtrack and 4K Blu-ray is released eventually.
Feel free to ask me any questions or my opinions on Cats, as I will be happy to interact with anyone.
Who else but @badgalriri could pair a custom @maisonmargiela by John Galliano mitre and a minidress? She strutted among the statues of the Greek and Roman galleries. #metgala
SophiaBush: #HumpDayMood
Frances McDormand Forever
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Directed by @bardiazeinali
DP @kellyjeffrey
Movement @mettenarrative
Steadicam @yoshisteadiop
Production @prodn_artandcommerce
Edit & Post Production @modern.post
Music @basement_jaxx #Mood #FrancesMcDormand #MetGala2018