You’ll never get a second chance to make a first impression. Before you hit the share button on Instagram, make sure you’re visually literate. In fact, social critic Camille Paglia takes on the current state of Instagram in her latest article “The Rise of “Strangely Unsexy” Instagram Exhibitionism — And Why It Hurts Women”. Consequently, whether you’re are a boy or girl, artist or model, actor or actress, unflattering photos will kill your opportunities in seconds. Camille Paglia targets women more than men since Instagram is used by more than twice as many women as men.

Camille, a staunch feminist says this, “I have to say that an overwhelming number of today’s female-authored Instagrams seem stilted, forced and strangely unsexy. Visual illiteracy is spreading: It is sadly obvious that few young people have seen classic romantic films or studied the spectacular corpus of Hollywood publicity stills, with their gorgeous sensual allure.

Ironically, she praises Rihanna for her visual aesthetic. “The leading artist of Instagram eroticism remains Rihanna, who for several years uploaded one brilliant image after another, often via the intuitive camera of her best friend, Melissa Forde. Rihanna understands magic, mood and mystique — sex as a shimmering state of mind. But the bright and shiny surface of too many of today’s female-generated Instagrams conceals a bleak and regressive reality, with men in the driver’s seat for careless, hit-and-run hookups”. She even rips Ariana Grande for performing at Aretha Franklin’s funeral while wearing a sleeveless minidress. CONTINUE READING

Sub-Radio will perform Rockwood Music Hall (Stage 2) tonight October 9th. The 6 piece pop-rock act based in DC has a catalog of fun-upbeat songs filled with ‘woah ah oh’s’ and gang vocals. Think Walk The Moon with big dance hooks.  The band notes, ” I think we’d like fans to take an optimistic view on whatever they’re doing. There’s a lot of negativity in the world today and we wanted to make something that oozes positive vibes, floral prints and lots of dancing”. The band has been packing out 200 capacity venues in DC and while carving out a path to NYC.

Kimono Loco drops the fun and playful Big Boy. Think The 1975 and The Neighbourhood meets Fallout Boy. Produced by Irish producer and Westwood Studios engineer, Shane Shanahan (Kygo, Kanye West, Frank Ocean), the band tells Kings, “We’ve always loved pop music and this track is unashamedly pop in the best way”. The band will perform The Finborough Arms (UK) on October 26th. Check it out!

Newly formed Parlors drop their debut track State Lines. The alternative rock act couldn’t have come out at a better time with a regenerated interest in the classic rock sound.  Moreover, the NYC based 4 piece indie rock outfit sound like seasoned professionals. According to the group, “their repertoire spans from hazy, desert-inspired tunes that might be heard at a dive bar in Tucson to 4-on-the-floor stompers”. Give it a Stream!

Hotels are now sticking their nose in the music business. You heard it right. In fact, the experiment is already on its way with the first artist signing. The Marriott owned W Hotel Records signed R&B singer-songwriter Amber Mark. The first release by Mark is a Kings Go Forth’s “High On Your Love”. The Hotel chain noted it will sign 4 artists in the coming year. Unlike Starbucks which launched a now defunct record label in 2007, the Marriott backed music label will provide the artist with recording space, video shoot locations, distribution, streaming services and even vinyl production. How will W Records attract artists? They’ll get exposure to the million members of Marriott’s global rewards programs says the Hotel Chain. We’ll follow the new signings and keep an eye on the impact.